<![CDATA[Purpose – This study examines how transformational leadership, framed within an Islamic educational perspective, drives the revitalisation of a rural vocational school in Indonesia. It identifies four main leadership strategies: (1) establishing vision and mission as a foundation for school direction, (2) managing priority scales to balance competing demands, (3) integrating approaches through internal and external networks, and (4) fostering sustainable collaborative partnerships. Design/methods/approach – Using a qualitative and phenomenological approach, this study explores how the principal plays a key role in school change and improvement within Islamic education perspective. Data were collected through observation, and document, also in-depth interview with key informant. The data were interpreted using Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña's Qualitative Data Analysis. Findings – The results of this study ultimately aim to provide applicable insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in the institutional sector. TThe findings reveal that the principal's transformational leadership, when analysed through an Islamic lens, reflects values such as qudwah (role modelling), tartib (discipline), ta'awun (cooperation), and shurah (consultation). These values contributed to the successful revitalisation of the school in order to maintain the existence of an educational institution, particularly at SMK Nusa Taruna 2 Kawunganten Cilacap. Research implications/limitations – The limitation of this study lies in the revitalisation efforts led by the headteacher. The findings show that educational sustainability can be achieved through effective leadership performance and cooperation among individuals and groups, while providing solutions through core leadership practices that support the school revitalisation process Originality/value – This research provides novel insights into how Islamic values can be used as a lens to interpret and enrich transformational leadership strategies for school revitalisation. It challenges the assumption that Western leadership models are universally applicable, offering an alternative perspective rooted in Islamic philosophy.]]>
