feedback with citations As an instructional leader, understanding the difference between ethical leadership and effective management is essential for fostering a positive educational environment. Ethical leadership involves tapping into moral values such as integrity, justice, and empathy, which guide leaders in creating a supportive and morally sound school culture (Ciulla, 2014). Effective management, on the other hand, often focuses on operational efficiency and achieving specific organizational goals through established procedures (Comstock, 2022). While management requires adherence to rules and the achievement of results, leadership involves inspiring and guiding others towards shared goals, which requires a deeper engagement with ethical principles and relational dynamics. In a school setting, for example, an ethical leader must not only ensure compliance with educational standards but also foster an environment of trust and mutual respect to address the diverse needs and values of the school community (American College of Education, 2024). Current research in leadership ethics faces several challenges and limitations. One significant issue is that leadership studies often do not include ethical considerations in their overall approach to leadership effectiveness (Ciulla, 2014). Many empirical studies rely heavily on questionnaires that measure perceptions rather than actual ethical behavior which also limits the understanding of ethics in leadership (Comstock, 2022)