Educational leadership plays a crucial role in achieving high-performing schools, particularly in the context of the demand for holistic improvement in educational quality. Educational leadership acts as a catalyst in creating a conducive learning environment, directing school management effectively, and motivating all school stakeholders to achieve shared goals. This study aims to examine the concepts, fundamental principles, and implementation of effective educational leadership in managing high-performing schools. Additionally, this research analyzes the supporting and inhibiting factors in the application of educational leadership and proposes strategies to overcome the challenges encountered. The method employed is a literature review to gather relevant data and information. The findings indicate that effective educational leadership significantly contributes to enhancing teacher motivation and performance, fostering a positive school culture, and optimizing student achievement. These findings underscore the importance of active educational leadership in adopting innovative and adaptive strategies to create outstanding and competitive schools.

This study evaluates a training program designed to enhance the competence of religious educators, known as "penyuluh agama" in Indonesia, in utilizing ICT-based media for religious education. The program, conducted in Bangkalan Regency, aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to develop and manage effective religious education media in the digital age. A needs assessment was conducted to inform the curriculum development, which covered fundamental aspects of ICT, introduction to ICT-based media, technical skills, and effective communication strategies. The training employed interactive workshops and provided ongoing support to participants. Evaluation results indicated significant improvement in participants' understanding and utilization of ICT-based media for religious education, as well as fostering a strong sense of community among them. This study highlights the effectiveness of ICT-based media training in empowering religious educators to adapt to the evolving needs of the community and expand the reach of religious education in the digital age.