Strategi Kepemimpinan Kepala Sekolah dalam Mewujudkan Efektivitas Program Pendidikan Karakter Anak Usia Dini di RA Amanina Kecamatan Lakarsantri Kota Surabaya

The Principal's Leadership Strategy In Realizing The Effectiveness Of The Early Childhood Character Education Program At Ra Amanina, Lakarsantri SubDistrict, Surabaya City

Pendidikan karakter pada anak usia dini berperan penting dalam membentuk kepribadian, etika, dan moral yang menjadi dasar perkembangan mereka di masa depan. Pendidikan karakter adalah proses pembentukan nilai-nilai moral, seperti tanggung jawab, integritas, dan kepedulian, yang diterapkan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari anak. Penelitian ini menganalisis strategi kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan efektivitas program pendidikan karakter di RA Amanina, Kecamatan Lakarsantri, Kota Surabaya, dengan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif melalui wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kepala sekolah memiliki peran utama dalam merancang dan melaksanakan program pendidikan karakter dengan melibatkan guru, orang tua, dan kurikulum berbasis anak. Strategi utama meliputi penerapan pembiasaan positif pada siswa, penguatan kolaborasi antara guru dan orang tua, serta optimalisasi kurikulum berbasis karakter. Meskipun terdapat tantangan seperti keterbatasan sumber daya dan variasi pemahaman di antara pihak-pihak yang terlibat, kepala sekolah berhasil mengatasinya melalui pendekatan kolaboratif serta solutif. Temuan ini dapat menjadi referensi untuk mengembangkan kepemimpinan yang mendukung pendidikan karakter di tingkat anak usia dini.

Kata Kunci: Strategi Kepemimpinan, Pendidikan Karakter, Anak Usia Dini  

Character education for young children plays a crucial role in shaping their personality, ethics, and morals, which serve as the foundation for their future development. Character education is the process of instilling moral values, such as responsibility, integrity, and empathy, in children's daily lives. This study analyzes the leadership strategies of the school principal in enhancing the effectiveness of character education programs at RA Amanina, Lakarsantri District, Surabaya, using a descriptive qualitative approach through interviews, observations, and documentation. The research findings indicate that the principal plays a central role in designing and implementing the character education program by involving teachers, parents, and a child centered curriculum. Key strategies include implementing positive habits for students, strengthening collaboration between teachers and parents, and optimizing a character-based curriculum. Despite challenges such as limited resources and varying understandings among stakeholders, the principal successfully addresses these through a collaborative and solution-oriented approach. The findings can serve as a reference for developing leadership that supports character education in early childhood education settings.

Keywords: Leadership Strategy, Character Education, Early Childhood.