A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP STYLES

This paper presents a holistic examination of school leadership in India through four core functionsinfluencing, directing, empowering, and working collaboratively-and four leadership styles-responsive, responsible, inclusive, and network leadership.Grounded in Mythili's (2020) framework and Vivian Robinson's models of leadership impact, the study explores how principals shape school improvement and student outcomes.It highlights the shift from traditional administrative roles to Leadership for Learning (LfL), emphasizing pedagogical leadership, equity, and systemic collaboration.The paper also analyzes four effects of leadership on learning-direct, indirect, reciprocal, and inverse-demonstrating the dynamic relationship between leaders, teachers, and students.Drawing on India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and global scholarship, the findings advocate for context-sensitive, inclusive approaches to address India's diverse educational challenges.