How do principals act as leaders and managers in boarding and public schools in Indonesia?

The principal has a crucial role in overseeing the institution he leads; this includes assuring the competence of teachers and students in the educational process. This research offers a novel perspective by examining the differing roles of school principals in managing boarding schools compared to public schools. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the principals who act as leaders and managers within the context of three boarding schools and five public schools located in Region III of Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia. The study employed descriptive qualitative method, with data collection using interviews and questionnaires. The data gathered were subsequently subjected from nine leaders of boarding at Cirebon and five leaders of public schools at Cirebon, Indramayu, Kuningan, Majalengka, to qualitative descriptive analysis. The research conclusion is that principals act as leaders and managers, and their associated practices are comprised of various indicators, including inspiration-based situational (situational leader behaviour but relies on inspiration), collective non-structural, senior structured, and sacred-based managerial (managerial based on the sacred). The impact of this study contributes to scientific knowledge about integrating management and leadership roles in decision theories. However, the study is limited by its focus on a specific geographic region, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.