Beyond the Surface: Unveiling the Complexities of Parent Engagement in Iranian Secondary School Leadership

Document Type : Qualitative Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Education, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 PhD Student in Educational Management, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22034/jsa.2026.142595.2579

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of parent engagement in school leadership among parents and principals in Sanandaj’s secondary schools, addressing a gap in the literature regarding context-specific understandings of this crucial yet complex concept. The participants in this study were 22 individuals, comprising 11 parents and 11 principals from various secondary schools in Sanandaj, Iran who were selected through a purposeful and snowball sampling model. Data was collected using Semi-structured interview protocol that was analyised via thematic analysis network. Thematic analysis, drawing on Social Capital Theory and Goodall's Parental Engagement Continuum, Family-School Partnerships Framework, revealed divergent interpretations of parent engagement, highlighting its undervaluation as a driver for educational quality and misalignment with its strategic goals. Structural, organizational, socio-cultural, and economic barriers were identified as hindering factors. The study offers contextually relevant recommendations for fostering a more collaborative and empowering approach to parent leadership in Iranian schools, contributing to both policy and practice.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 15 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 18 March 2026

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