Education Cycle Coordinators as Middle Leaders: Key Agents for Educational Organizations

Middle leaders are figures who play a leadership role with influence over teachers, while also maintaining a connection with senior positions in educational organizations. The Catalan education system includes the cycle coordinator, a professional who exercises mid-level leadership. The aim of this study is to identify cycle coordinators as middle leaders and determine the key roles they perform. A quantitative descriptive methodology was employed, implementing a questionnaire with 414 primary education cycle coordinators from the Catalan education system, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis. The findings demonstrate that cycle coordinators fulfill all the roles of a middle leader. The results provide evidence of six main roles developed by coordinators, highlighting their role as drivers of innovation and change, as well as their involvement in team organization and curriculum implementation. Additionally, they excel as strategists, personnel managers, and administrators, positioning them as key agents in promoting sustainable educational development. This study establishes practical and theoretical implications for recognizing cycle coordinators and their leadership roles. Greater leadership training is required for these positions, along with policy recognition that fosters their empowerment within the education system.