International Journal of Educational Policy Research and Review Vol.8 (6), pp. 208-214 November, 2021 Available online at https://www.journalissues.org/IJEPRR/ https://doi.org/10.15739/IJEPRR.21.023 Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article ISSN 2360-7076 Original Research Article Changes in senior leadership and its effect on school goal achievement: An experience of Seventh-day Adventist Secondary Schools in Mara Region, Tanzania Received 15 September, 2021 Revised 18 October, 2021 Accepted 25 October, 2021 Published 3 November, 2021 Joshua S. Okello 1 and Baraka M. Ngussa* 1 1 School of Education, University of Arusha, Tanzania *Corresponding Author Email: ngussathe5th@gmail.com This study looked into changes in senior leadership and their impact on school goal achievement. The survey research design was used in the study, and data was collected through a questionnaire from teachers at five Adventist Secondary Schools in the Mara region. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation. According to the findings of the study, senior leadership changes in schools are carried out in an appropriate manner as respondents were pleased with the trends of senior leadership changes and thus willing to support the new leaders in achieving the schools goals and objectives. Teachers rated the achievement of school goals favorably. Based on the findings, it is suggested that school administrators continue with the proper leadership change trend, as this encourages teachers and other school stakeholders to support the newly introduced school leaders. Changes in senior leadership in the school should be based on strategic plans and they should always be accompanied by leadership succession plans. School administrators must maintain good student performance because it is a good marketing strategy for schools to attract more students. Finally, the school administration should maintain a regular leadership change which brings in new blood and has a positive impact on the school goal achievement. Keywords: Leadership change, goal achievement, Adventist, schools INTRODUCTION Change is a process that affects every aspect of life (Hırlak and Kara, 2018). According to Passenheim (2010), change is an alteration of a company’s strategy, organization or culture as a result of new trends in the working environment. Leadership change is an important aspect in any institution. According to Ndibalema (2016), the importance of Leadership change includes helping institutions to increase the performance and reducing performance gaps. Ngussa and Makewa (2014) stipulated that school changes refer to educational transformations that convey the image of starting anew, of changing not only content but also form, of shifting from thinking with the old order to inventing a new order that is found on new assumptions, values and vision. Change helps to rectify activities that may have been done ineffectively in the institution. It helps in solving external or internal pressure and maintaining appropriate institutional culture. According to Hırlak and Kara (2018), leadership change helps to determine plans and strategies accordingly in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. In Tanzania, a study by Aunga and Masare (2017) found that leadership changes has impact on teachers’ performance