When directing becomes learning: A qualitative look at the experiences of novice principals

First-time school principals face a substantial challenge as they must rapidly adapt to a leadership role that demands strong planning, organizational, supervisory, and decision-making skills. This study explored the experiences of sixteen novice principals through semi-structured interviews guided by Mintzberg’s interpersonal, informational, and decisional roles. The findings show that these leaders must simultaneously manage relationships within the school community, process and communicate information in response to daily demands, and address problems and conflicts. Additionally, the need to integrate digital technologiesinto academic and administrative tasks emerged as a relevant theme. The study concludes that school leadership strengthens through practice and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities for institutional improvement.