Innovative actions in Education - Management model and actions of encouragement and support in Higher Education

Effective management of innovative programs and the development of the capacity to design and implement innovations is a challenge that an educational organization is called upon to undertake. This paper focuses on leading actions to encourage the organization and implementation of innovations in the school unit. In the present work, an attempt is made to investigate in a sample of 116 directors of Secondary Education of the Region of Western Greece issues related to the necessity and climate of introducing innovative actions in the school unit they serve, the suitability of specific models - leadership behavior style for school innovations and encouraging and supporting actions to implement innovations in schools. The research highlighted the need for innovative actions with an important factor being the existence of a good communication climate through a democratic leadership style. The success of innovation is never guaranteed, but it depends on the intelligence and clarity of the person who directs the innovation, making the role of the school principal crucial.