The Principal's Strategy in Developing Excellence Classes at Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7 Surakarta

THE PRINCIPAL'S STRATEGY IN DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE CLASSES AT MUHAMMADIYAH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 7 SURAKARTA Fitri Nur Aisyah*, Triono Ali Mustofa Muhammadiyah University, Surakarta, Indonesia Abstract Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7 Surakarta is a private school based on the Islamic Center with an accredited A grade as an Adiwiyata Comfort and Cultural School. The school also offers distinguished programs aimed at achieving excellence, producing Islamic graduates with global perspectives and environmental awareness. Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7 manages 2 exclusive programs: the global class program and the regular program. These distinguished classes have been running for approximately 10 years. Researchers conducted a study on the principal's strategies in developing these excellence classes at Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7 Surakarta. This study aims to identify and describe the principal's strategies in developing these classes. The research utilized a qualitative approach through field research, with the principal as the primary informant. Data collection methods included interviews, observations, and documentation, analyzed descriptively. The findings indicate that the principal employs strategies such as student management focusing on both input and output, daily teacher evaluations to assess teaching activities, mentorship, and motivation, and implementing additional programs including memorization (tahfidz), English language, educational trips, robotics, and coding classes. Keywords: Principal; Strategy; Excellence classes. INTRODUCTION Education serves as the cornerstone in shaping the character and potential of learners, providing the foundation necessary to achieve the desired educational outcomes. In the context of rapid globalization, transforming the educational system is essential to maintaining relevance and competitiveness in this dynamic era (Sekar Pertiwi, 2023). Principal leadership plays a pivotal role in steering schools towards higher standards through the development and implementation of programs that are not only excellent but also attuned to contemporary demands (Jaliah, Fitria, & Martha, 2020). Modern educational institutions aim to extend their offerings beyond the standard curriculum to foster a learning environment rich in exploration and innovation (putridiyanti, 2022). This is embodied in various flagship programs designed to expand students' knowledge and enhance their skills across diverse fields. Therefore, principals hold a strategic responsibility in crafting, executing, and evaluating these programs' effectiveness. Education is recognized as a deliberate endeavor by educators to facilitate selfdevelopment, guiding learners to become fully realized individuals according to predefined goals. Historically, the purpose of education has been to instruct students and guide them towards achieving specific objectives and improving behavior (Astuti, 2019). It is also a process aimed at broadening, enriching, and transforming knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors, ultimately fostering wisdom through teaching and training activities (Muhammad Basarrudin, 2023). In this era of globalization, significant changes in the education system are imperative for a country to remain competitive across all sectors. Therefore, principals must remain vigilant regarding external *Correspondance Author: Article History | Submited: 30 Juni, 2024 | Revised: 09 Juli, 2024|Accepted: 19 Juli, 2024 |Publish: 30 Juli 2024 HOW TO CITE (APA 6th Edition): Aisyah, Fitri Nur., Mustofa, Triono Ali. (2024). The Principal's Strategy in Developing Excellence Classes at Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7 Surakarta. Juspi: Jurnal Sejarah Peradaban Islam. 8(1), page.195-202 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.30829/juspi.v8i1.20853 195 Fitri Nur Aisyah, Triono Ali Mustofa educational advancements, especially in terms of performance and quality (Jonni Mardizal & Nizwardi Jalinus, 2023). To achieve educational goals, schools have developed various unique features and advantages in their learning systems. These include international schools, special program schools, national schools, and distinguished schools. The evolution of these schools aims to enhance the quality of education and achieve superior educational outcomes (Rizqi, 2022). Principals, in particular, play a crucial role in devising strategies to improve their schools by considering factors such as teacher quality, facilities, student achievements, and community engagement. The success of schools in implementing distinguished programs hinges on the strategic efforts of principals to elevate school quality through superior programs (Saputra, Adha, Jakarta, & Ariyanti, 2020). Principals must also be perceptive and proactive in observing societal trends to identify the types of schools favored by parents and students, ensuring that planned distinguished programs are both targeted and executed effectively (Trisandi & Salam, 2020). School leadership is instrumental in driving schools to realize their vision, mission, and goals through systematically planned programs. As Arthur G. Jago, cited by Mukhtar, notes about leadership: "Leadership is both a process and a property. As a process, leadership involves influencing group members without coercion to direct and coordinate their activities to achieve goals. As a property, leadership encompasses the traits a leader must possess to successfully influence group members" (Trisandi & Salam, 2020). A quality school is characterized by the high caliber of its graduates. The effectiveness of a school is significantly influenced by the principal's leadership style. It is the principal's duty to enhance the quality of their school to produce graduates who not only possess strong academic abilities but also exhibit the moral and intellectual qualities expected from those who have received an education. Consequently, principals implement strategies to achieve school excellence. The careful formulation and strategic execution of these programs are essential for success (Saifulloh, Muhibbin, & Hermanto, 2012). Furthermore, principals must observe community preferences to determine which schools are most appealing, ensuring that distinguished programs are welltargeted (Navy, 2013). Muhammadiyah Junior High School 7, a private school with an A accreditation and recognized as an Adiwiyata Comfort and Culture School, exemplifies the implementation of distinguished programs aimed at excellence. This institution is committed to producing graduates who are both Islamic and globally aware. It offers several exclusive class programs, including the Global Class Program and the Regular Special Program. The Global Class, in particular, is highly sought after due to its distinctive focus on Islamic studies, English proficiency, and memorization, setting it apart from the regular curriculum. This program, which has been in operation for a decade, reflects an innovative approach to achievi (...truncated)