ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT: THREAT OR CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL LEADERS

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various industries, and is increasingly applied across numerous areas of human activity, offering both significant benefits and unique challenges.Educational management is no exception.AI is being used to improve the learning experience for students and to streamline administrative processes at reduced costs.While the potential of AI in education is vast, its integration into school leadership and management raises critical ethical and practical issues.Key concerns include "What are the benefits and risks of implementing AI in schools" and "What competencies do school leaders need to use AI effectively in their roles".This paper highlights the transformative potential of AI in educational management, arguing that AI should be seen as a valuable tool that enables school leaders to delegate routine management tasks and refocus their attention on creative problem solving and complex interpersonal challenges that require human insight and emotional intelligence.A small survey was conducted among Greek primary school principals to explore their perceptions of AI, their readiness to adopt AI-driven tools, and the challenges they face in integrating AI into their daily practice.The results of the survey provide valuable insights into the practical implications of AI for school leadership and the professional development needs of educators.This study adopted a quantitative methodological design and data were collected through an electronic questionnaire created using Microsoft Forms software.Convenience sampling was used; the electronic questionnaire was administered to participants in 2024 and was anonymous.The findings show that the majority of school leaders are sceptical about the use of AI, perceiving it more as a threat, but are aware that it is a necessity of the times and that training is required.The paper also argues that while AI can augment certain leadership tasks, it cannot replace the core human elements of educational leadership -building deep, authentic connections and demonstrating compassion, empathy and ethical decision-making.As Harris and Jones (2023) argue, leadership is fundamentally about these human qualities, which are beyond the current capabilities of AI.The study concludes by advocating for targeted professional development to help school leaders acquire the necessary skills to work effectively with AI technologies.By doing so, school leaders can improve outcomes while maintaining the human-centred essence of education.