The purpose of the study is to examine the ethical dilemmas among mid-level school leaders in the social-ecological context through role-play simulations. We examined simulations involving role-played ethical scenarios and group debriefings among 30 mid-level school leaders from different Israeli high schools and districts during the MA course in the educational leadership program. A qualitative analysis generated an expanded social-ecological model for mid-level school leaders. The model consists of six main layers: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, public policy, and technology. Each of the layers is divided into sub-categories. The study’s findings reveal the concurrent appearance of the different layers. These findings emphasize the complexity of the role of mid-level school leaders, as they cope simultaneously with a variety of ethical dilemmas characterized by multiple conflicting values. Moreover, the study findings indicated the interpersonal layer to be the most dominant layer, demonstrating mid-level leaders’ dual role as both classroom teachers and as team leaders. This study may contribute toward the development and modification of professional training programs for mid-level school leaders. It may also be helpful when designing strategies to deal with ethical challenges and to strengthen the school’s ethical leadership.

该研究的目的是通过角色扮演模拟研究社会生态环境中的中级学校领导者的道德困境。在教育领导力计划的硕士课程期间，我们检查了来自以色列不同中学和地区的30位中级学校领导在角色扮演的道德情景和小组汇报中的模拟情况。定性分析为中级学校领导者提供了扩展的社会生态模型。该模型包括六个主要层：个人，人际关系，组织，社区，公共政策和技术。每个层都分为子类别。该研究的发现揭示了不同层的并发外观。这些发现强调了中层学校领导者角色的复杂性，因为他们同时应对各种以多种相互矛盾的价值观为特征的道德困境。此外，研究结果表明人际关系层是最主要的层，这表明中层领导者既有课堂教师又有团队领导者的双重作用。这项研究可能有助于开发和修改针对中层学校领导的专业培训计划。在设计应对道德挑战和加强学校道德领导力的策略时，这也可能会有所帮助。这项研究可能有助于开发和修改针对中层学校领导的专业培训计划。在设计应对道德挑战和加强学校道德领导力的策略时，这也可能会有所帮助。这项研究可能有助于开发和修改针对中层学校领导的专业培训计划。在设计应对道德挑战和加强学校道德领导力的策略时，这也可能会有所帮助。