Background and purpose: Social, technological, and educational developments in the 21st century have led schools to new missions such as nurturing creative, responsible and innovative students. In this regard, management and leadership of educational leadership are key factors in the realization of these missions. The present study examines the special challenges of management and leadership and effective strategies to fulfill these new missions.
Method: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and phenomenological approach. The research community included school principals and educational experts who were selected through targeted sampling. The data collection tool was a semi -structural interview, and the data was analyzed using the content analysis method in three stages of open, pivotal and selective coding.
Results: The findings showed that managers' most important challenges include resource constraints, the need for professional development of teachers, resistance to change, lack of stakeholder participation, and lack of readiness to face crises. Suggested strategies for dealing with these challenges include strategic resource allocation, provision of regular professional development programs, strengthening stakeholder cooperation, change management programs, and crisis preparation frameworks. Also, technology integration was identified as an essential tool for educational transformation.
Conclusion: Effective management and leadership in schools requires a combination of strategic planning, stakeholder participation, professional development, and enhance the culture of innovation. The study suggests that school leaders should turn schools into leading and accountable learning environments by utilizing innovative and consistent strategies. Results can help policymakers and educational leaders formulate operational strategies to improve educational quality and realize new missions.