The Leadership Competencies of Teachers Mentors as a Factor of Education of Leadership Competencies in Students

The importance of leadership for the quality of education and for the progress of school has been emphasized. Recently the proof that in leadership environment at schools the significance of leadership of teachers is not less important than the leadership of principals has increased; in some aspects it is even more significant for the achievements of students than the leadership of the principals. The importance of teachers-leaders has especially been emphasized in recent years. So the scientists have raised an idea that educators should be prepared for leadership at higher school. There has been more and more research done concerning the preparation of students for leadership. The role of practice in this process has been increasingly emphasized. At the same time, the influence of mentors on the education of students as leaders has also been acknowledged. Although the significance of practical activity and mentorship has been emphasized, the lack of research has been felt that could reveal the connection between the leadership competencies of mentors and their students. Due to practical relevance and the lack of research, the issue of connection between leadership competencies and mentorship has been chosen for this dissertational research. The results of natural experiment show change in leadership competencies of students during teaching practicum as well as differences between their mentors’ leadership competencies and their own ones, connection between students’ leadership competencies and their mentor’s functions fulfilled, and forecast of impact of mentors’ leadership competencies on students’ leadership competencies has been provided