Building Trust in Schools: The principal's role in fostering trust within school community in private and public settings.

Trust is a significant aspect of school life. It influences the communication, collaboration, and reaction of people to decisions. This research paper is aimed at comprehending the perception and experience of trust in public and private schools in Azerbaijan, particularly in the context of school principals in building and fostering trust in schools among the school community. This study applied a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with principals, teachers, students, parents, and school staff. The purpose of this research was to get to know their personal experiences and their views regarding trust in their schools. The results indicate that trust is largely related to honesty, fairness, respect, and effective communication. Trust was commonly defined by daily interactions by the participants as opposed to formal rules. Most of them had principals who played important roles in the establishment of a trusting environment, although they also stated that trust is determined by the way principals communicate, make decisions, and treat others. There were also some differences in the study between the public and private schools. Such differences are connected to the manner in which schools are operated, decisions are made, and expectations of the stakeholders. Regardless of these variations, trust is established in both environments by acting in a consistent way and having positive relationships. Overall, the research indicates that trust does not come automatically; it is a process that builds up through actions and experience. The results can assist school leaders to comprehend their role more and consider how they can make the school a more trusting environment.