<> "The repository administrator has not yet configured an RDF license."^^ . <> . . . "Leading the Digital Transformation of Education: The Perspective of School Principals"^^ . "This mixed-methods study investigates the strategic management of digital transformation in Bulgarian schools by analysing principals’ self-reported leadership practices and styles.Using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 349) gathered through the SELFIE tool, complemented by 30 in-depth interviews, the research examines how school leaders understand and enact their roles as digital leaders within a context of fragmented policies and uneven digital capacity. Quantitative results reveal a central paradox: although 89.7% of principals claim to actively support teachers’ digital innovation, only about half report having a formalised digital strategy. This imbalance between strong operational support and weak institutionalisation reflects the dominant approach to school digitalisation in Bulgaria. Qualitative cluster analysis identifies three leadership profiles: (1) a strategic–collaborative profile, characterised by long-term planning, partnerships, and data-driven decisions; (2) a supportive–collaborative profile focused on teacher communities and context-specific professional development but lacking strategic vision; and (3) a balanced–pragmatic profile oriented toward measurable improvements and adaptive responses. Triangulation with national assessment data shows that leadership styles align with institutional contexts: high-performing schools tend to apply strategic–collaborative leadership, while lower performing schools adopt pragmatic, adaptive approaches. The study argues that digital transformation requires context-sensitive frameworks recognising multiple developmental trajectories, highlighting the need for differentiated policies that support strategic institutionalisation of existing digital innovations while addressing structural inequalities."^^ . "2026-01-22" . . "16(1)" . "57" . . "Faculty of Education, Sofia University"^^ . . . "Administrative Sciences"^^ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Parvanova"^^ . "Yonka"^^ . "Parvanova Yonka"^^ . . "Mizova"^^ . "Bistra"^^ . "Mizova Bistra"^^ . . "Peytcheva-Forsyth"^^ . "Roumiana"^^ . "Peytcheva-Forsyth Roumiana"^^ . . . . . . "Leading the Digital Transformation of Education: The Perspective of School Principals (PDF)"^^ . . . . . "admsci-16-00057-with-cover.pdf"^^ . . "HTML Summary of #1747 \n\nLeading the Digital Transformation of Education: The Perspective of School Principals\n\n" . "text/html" . . . "L Education (General)"@en . .