Madrasah Head Leadership Innovation: Student Holistic Character Development Strategy: Inovasi Kepemimpinan Kepala Madrasah: Strategi Pengembangan Karakter Holistik Siswa

Sunam (Program Studi Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)
Hidayatulloh (Program Studi Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)

Indonesian Journal of Innovation Studies
Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026): January

General Background Character education within madrasahs plays an essential role in fostering individuals characterized by integrity, ethics, and responsibility. Specific Background This research investigates the role of the madrasah head in designing and implementing holistic character education programs at MTs Tarbiyatus Shibyan Guyangan Krucil Probolinggo. Knowledge Gap Previous literature lacks detailed qualitative insight into how specific leadership functions and scheduled religious activities are systematically coordinated by madrasah heads to instill core moral traits among students. Aims This study aims to explore the phenomena experienced by research subjects and describe the role of the madrasah head in student character development along with its resulting outcomes. Results The qualitative findings reveal that the madrasah head successfully formulates strategic policies and enforces consistency by engaging teachers as rotational prayer leaders, which actively instills three core student characters: religious, disciplined, and responsible. Novelty The direct integration of administrative policy formulation with active managerial oversight and rotational teacher-led spiritual practices constructs a cohesive framework for character cultivation. Implications These findings demonstrate that proactive madrasah head leadership serves as a foundational model for establishing a disciplined religious culture and moral resilience in Islamic educational institutions. Highlights:  Madrasah leadership extends beyond administrative functions to encompass the strategic design and implementation of holistic character education. Character cultivation initiatives successfully instill core behavioral traits including religious devotion, discipline, and personal responsibility. Administrative consistency and rotational teacher involvement in daily religious practices reinforce institutional culture and student compliance. Keywords: Madrasah Head, Character Development, Student Morality, Islamic Education, Leadership Role