The Role of the Middle Management in Different Segments of the Schooling Path

This research focuses on middle management (so called “funzioni strumentali†), in Italian schools, seen as a transversal role that represent a model of organization anchored to the intermediate roles, that are able to support and drive the complex management of the school system. The school itself is at the same time an independent organization as well as a public service that provides its specific task in order to deliver its educational aim. As results, it is a complex organization composed by many variables and rules, both formal and informal, which create a unique setting of relationship between different professionals who work there. In order to face all the concerns and discussions addressed to the educational system by the organization itself and its users, we should focus on the organization of roles, functions and professionalism that characterizes the school nowadays. Overall, it should be noted that these particular middle managers are qualitative professionals working in schools. In an attempt to clarify the different facets in which are represented, their position seems to slip between staff leadership and extra-disciplinary specializations, leaving a complex interactions system without a clear division of roles and responsibilities. Probably, at an institutional level, the lack of an overall vision of the school system affects the definition of the tasks and responsibilities of these managers, leaving space to interpretation on their actual role. In an attempt to clarify different facets of them, it seems that the role of the instrumental functions differs in various segments of the schooling path.