Representing the Principals Perceptions and Lived Experiences of the Professional Development: A Qualitative Study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the perceptions and lived experiences of school principals regarding professional development. This research was a qualitative phenomenological study. The participants in the current research Participants included school principals of Mashhad and authorities’ involved in the professional development of school principals (including: experts, planners, designers, and instructors) in Mashhad and Tehran education departments. Using the "purposive sampling" method, 25 people including 20 school principals and 5 Authorities’ were selected. Semi-structured interview method was used to collect data. In the present study, Lincoln and Goba's reliability model was used for validation. The results show that the methods of professional development of school principals are divided into two categories: formal and informal. The purpose and motivation of school principals to participate in professional development activities / programs were to: Improvement and upgrading of essential knowledge and skills; External / social acceptance; and Certificates and material rewards. Furthermore, the content of professional development programs was divided into two categories: general and specialized content. The consequences for the professional development of school principals were: informing; Synergy and cooperation; Mental flip; Practical pattern; the use of evaluation results