Current Volume 8
This study investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing instructional leadership and fostering academic excellence within the framework of smart school management. It is anchored in the emerging Integrating AI into Instructional Leadership Theory, which synthesizes principles from Transformational Leadership Theory (Burns, 1978; Bass, 1985) and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (Mishra & Koehler, 2006), tailored to the evolving demands of AI in education. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study utilizes documentary review and document analysis to explore policy trends, implementation strategies, and conceptual models that inform AI integration in instructional leadership practices. The investigation focuses on six critical dimensions: AI-driven decision support systems, intelligent learning analytics and academic performance monitoring, AI-based personalized learning and adaptive instructional models, AI-enhanced classroom supervision, leadership competencies for managing AI in smart schools, and the ethical, cultural, and policy implications of AI in instructional contexts. Findings reveal that while AI presents substantial opportunities to revolutionize teaching, learning, and school administration, its effective application requires school leaders to cultivate new technological and ethical competencies, promote inclusive practices, and establish responsive policy frameworks. Based on the findings, the study recommends that teachers and school administrators engage in continuous professional development to strengthen their digital competence and readiness for AI-enabled instruction and school management. With strategic foresight, ethical governance, and inclusive leadership, AI can become a powerful catalyst for educational innovation, equity, and academic excellence in the digital age.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Instructional Leadership, Smart School Management, Academic Excellence, Educational Innovation
IRE Journals:
Sunday, Godwin Imoh , Afia, Anietie Edet , Essien, Nseabasi Essang , Inyang, Susan Akpan , Peters, Victor Aniefiok; Uzoigwe, Michael Chukwudi
"Smart School Management: Integrating AI into Instructional Leadership for Academic Excellence" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 11 2025 Page 694-708
IEEE:
Sunday, Godwin Imoh , Afia, Anietie Edet , Essien, Nseabasi Essang , Inyang, Susan Akpan , Peters, Victor Aniefiok; Uzoigwe, Michael Chukwudi
"Smart School Management: Integrating AI into Instructional Leadership for Academic Excellence" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(11)