Indonesia Conference Directory

The increase in cases of delinquency in middle school age shows that the leadership role of the principal is still low. Principals in increasing teacher professionalism have an impact on improving student achievement and improving student character. This study aims to determine the ability of principals to carry out Instructional Leadership to improve teacher teaching performance so that it has an impact on improving student character. This research model is descriptive evaluative. Subjects were selected by purposive sampling and triadic covering 15 principals, 150 teachers and 450 students from DIY. Data collection techniques used observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation. Data analysis techniques using mixed methods. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression, while qualitative data were analyzed using Miler and Hubermans theories which included 4 stages: reduction, display, triangulation, and conclusion. The results of this study conclude as follows: (1) Mild delinquency is still done by students, including: smoking, scribbling, truant, bullying friends, making gangs, opposing parents, playing lots of cellphones, and being lazy to worship; (2) Character strengthening is carried out through extracurricular programs, socialization of order books, cooperation with external parties; (3) The instructional leadership ability of the Muhammadiyah Middle School principals is still low, in terms of preparing targets and strategies for school achievement, making standards for learning services, and creating patterns of teacher competency development; (4) The magnitude of the influence of Instructional Leadership in changing student characters is obtained by a percentage of 12%, while 78% is influenced by other factors; and (5) the inhibiting factor of principals instructional leadership is the lack of cooperation in building a shared vision in educating children between school and parents.