Leadership Management of Guardians In Character Formation of Students At As-Shidqu Islamic Boarding School, Kuningan Regency

Abstract

Pesantren has an important role in shaping the character of students to become individuals with morals and disciplined character. One of the main factors in shaping the character of santri is the leadership of the caregiver, who not only acts as a spiritual leader, but also as a manager who manages the education and coaching system of santri. However, in practice, the effectiveness of caregiver leadership often faces various challenges, such as the lack of direct interaction with students, the limitations of the delegation system to administrators, and the changing dynamics of the pesantren ecosystem which now accepts more young students. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the caregiver's leadership management in shaping the character of students as well as the strategies applied to improve the effectiveness of character building at As- Shidqu Islamic Boarding School. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. Data collection was carried out through direct observation, interviews, as well as analyzing documentation. The data analysis technique was carried out through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that the caregiver leadership at As-Shidqu Islamic Boarding School implemented a structured and value-based management system. The caregiver not only acts as a spiritual leader, but also as a manager who ensures that the pesantren runs with a sustainable system. The caregiver applies the main strategies in including character building through exemplary, direct interaction with students, strengthening the delegation system to administrators, and a disciplinary approach tailored to the age of the students. In addition, in facing the challenges of changes in the pesantren ecosystem, which now accepts more 12-year-old students, the caregivers try to provide direct direction to the administrators and students more often so that character building can take place optimally