<![CDATA[Educational quality management in primary schools requires innovative leadership capable of navigating resource constraints while fostering continuous improvement. However, limited empirical evidence exists on how innovative leadership operationalizes quality management in rural Indonesian contexts. This study examined the innovative leadership strategies of the school principal in implementing educational quality management at SD Inpres Makapa A, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving the principal and nine teachers as participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and Likert-scale questionnaires, then analyzed using an interactive model comprising data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing with triangulation to ensure trustworthiness. Findings revealed exceptionally high perception scores (95.6%) for innovative leadership across all indicators. The principal demonstrated transformational-innovative leadership through participatory decision-making, transparent communication, continuous professional development, technology integration, and moral-ethical guidance. Three interconnected mechanisms emerged: collaborative culture-building, adaptive practices, and psychological empowerment. Documentary evidence confirmed institutionalized quality management practices, though resource constraints moderated sustainability. Innovative leadership significantly enhances educational quality management effectiveness by leveraging social capital and intrinsic motivation rather than material resources alone. The study provides a replicable model for rural primary schools and emphasizes prioritizing leadership capacity-building alongside infrastructural investments for sustainable quality improvement.]]>
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