School Heads’ Perception on their Leadership Practices and its Effect on School Performance at San Fernando District

Authors

  • Rosauro B. Capariño, Jr. Principal I, Buyo Elementary School, San Fernando, Masbate, Philippines Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65339/ijsair.V2.I2.295

Keywords:

Curriculum implementation, Educational Leadership, Leadership Practices, School Heads, School Management, School Performance, Supervision

Abstract

This study examined the leadership practices of public elementary and secondary school heads in San Fernando District, Masbate, and determined their perceived impact on school performance. It was anchored on Instructional Leadership Theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, and Distributed Leadership Theory, which collectively explain how leadership influences instruction, teacher motivation, collaboration, and school effectiveness. The study used a descriptive-quantitative research design and involved 30 school heads selected through convenience sampling. Data were gathered through a validated questionnaire covering respondents’ profile, leadership practices in school management, educational leadership, supervision, and curriculum implementation, and the perceived impact of these practices on school performance. Frequency count and percentage were used for the demographic profile, weighted mean for the level of leadership practices and impact on school performance, and Pearson correlation for the relationship between variables. Findings showed that the respondents were mostly 31–35 years old, predominantly male and married, with master’s degree units, long years of service, and mostly holding the position of Principal I. The school heads demonstrated a very high level of leadership practices across all measured dimensions, particularly in educational leadership, supervision, school management, and curriculum implementation. Their leadership practices were also perceived to have a very positive impact on school performance, especially in program implementation, student achievement, resource management, and stakeholder involvement. The study further revealed a statistically significant strong positive relationship between leadership practices and school performance. It concludes that effective leadership among school heads is strongly associated with improved school outcomes and recommends continued leadership training, strengthened school-based management, sustained teacher support, closer curriculum monitoring, and enhanced stakeholder involvement. The study aligns with SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by emphasizing effective educational leadership and stronger school governance. Its sustainability contribution lies in supporting educational, institutional, governance, and community sustainability through improved school leadership and performance.

References

Abuhammad, S., Alzoubi, K., & Khabour, O. (2024). School leadership and teachers’ instructional practices: Moderating role of curriculum clarity. Educational Management Administration & Leadership.

Adlawan, M. M., & Quines, L. A. (2025). Instructional leadership of school heads, workplace spirituality and school climate: A causal model on teacher engagement in public schools. European Journal of Education Studies.

Akram, M., Malik, M. I., & Taj, S. (2022). Effect of instructional leadership on school performance. Global Social Sciences Review, 7(4), 10–22. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-IV).02

Almoceda, N., & Pedroso, J. E. (2025). Public school teachers’ perceptions of entrepreneurial leadership skills among school heads in the Philippines. EIKI Journal of Effective Teaching Methods, 3(3), 567.

Apellido, L. A., & Ventura, C. V. M. (2025). School heads 21st century instructional leadership and teachers’ performance management in Lambayong 3 District. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 36(7), 745–768. https://doi.org/10.70838/pemj.360702

Aquino, C. J. C., Afalla, B. T., & Fabelico, F. L. (2021). Managing educational institutions: School heads’ leadership practices and teachers’ performance. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(4), 1325–1333. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i4.21518

Babic, A., & Barrett, D. (2023). Distributed instructional leadership and school improvement. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 22(1), 14–36.

Bashir, I., Bano, S., & Gul, F. (2024). Curriculum implementation and principals’ instructional leadership practices. Competitive Education Research Journal.

Bastasa, J. L., & Guhao Jr., E. S. (2025). Principal leadership, political skills, and teacher empowerment: A path model analysis on school climate among public schools. European Journal of Education Studies.

Batiancila, M. (2025). Instructional leadership behavior of school heads, work values and mental health of teachers: A path model on teachers’ self-esteem. European Journal of Education Studies.

Bellibas, M., & Liu, Y. (2020). School leadership and teacher morale: Instructional leadership as an indirect predictor of student performance. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 31(3), 382–404.

Caballero, J. R. D., & Bantulo, J. S. (2023). Principals’ school management styles and motivations of teachers toward school performance. European Journal of Education Studies.

Cabildo, G. S. (2025). Empowering school leaders: An exploration of supervisory practices and challenges among public elementary school heads in the Schools Division of Ilocos Sur. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 8(3).

Calik, T., & Nkambule, N. (2024). Teachers’ and middle managers’ experiences of principals’ instructional leadership towards improving curriculum delivery. South African Journal of Childhood Education.

Capillanes, M. J. A. (2025). School heads’ instructional leadership on teachers’ work performance. GEO Academic Journal.

Cook, L. M. (2023). School administrators’ perceptions of leadership practices promoting culturally responsive learning environments (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies.

Demirdag, S. (2021). School principals’ instructional leadership as a predictor of teacher motivation. IE: Inquiry in Education, 13(2).

Dinglasa, C. C., & Lantaka, I. A. (2025). School head’s leadership style and teacher’s performance. International Journal of Research in Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(7), 26–36.

Dutta, V., & Sahney, S. (2022). Relation of principal instructional leadership, school climate, teacher job performance and student achievement. Journal of Educational Administration, 60(2), 148–166.

Ermita, L. G., & Baysa, M. L. (2025). Transformational leadership practices of school heads: Teachers’ motivation and school performance. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan, 3(3), 178–202. https://doi.org/10.60132/jip.v3i3.499

Esogon, S. G. T., & Gumban, J. L. (2024). Transformational leadership of school heads in public elementary schools in Bacolod City, Philippines. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(3s), 3244–3255. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.803231S

Faremi, Y. A., & Tshabalala, G. (2024). The leadership role of the school principal in developing and improving learner performance in Eswatini schools. European Journal of Education and Pedagogy, 5(6).

Gatama, S. N., Otieno, M. A., & Waweru, S. N. (2023). Principals’ instructional leadership and its influence on students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools in Nyeri and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya. East African Journal of Education Studies, 6(1), 148–163. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.6.1.1080

Grissom, J. A., Egalite, A. J., & Lindsay, C. A. (2021). How principals affect students and schools: A systematic synthesis of two decades of research. The Wallace Foundation. https://doi.org/10.59656/EL-SB1065.001

Kaur, A. T., Narayana Samy, K. A., & Aslam, S. (2023). The relationship of headmasters’ distributive leadership towards professional learning community practices. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 12(2), 627–643.

Marshall, D. (2024). Principal instructional leadership practices that improve middle school student academic achievement (Doctor of Education dissertation, Walden University). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies.

Mendoza, J. R. A., & De Jesus, L. F. (2024). School management and leadership in the contemporary state of education system in the Philippines. Pantao: The International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Mendoza, V. S., & Castro, H. R. (2024). Instructional leadership of public elementary school heads and teachers’ pedagogical performance in Quezon Province. Philippine Christian University Education Journal, 12(4), 89–104.

Miano, M., Aringo, M., & Barasa, V. (2023). Principals’ transformative leadership on the performance in science subjects in girls’ public secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County. East African Journal of Education Studies, 6(3), 53–70. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.6.3.1475

Oliveros, L. (2025). Current instructional supervisory practices of school heads and the performance of teachers in public schools in selected districts in DepEd Laguna. Enverga University Research Repository.

Olasiman, M. R. P., & Torreon, L. C. (2024). Leadership styles and practices of school heads on teachers’ teaching accomplishment. International Journal of Research – Granthaalayah.

Ombao, E. J. M., & De Jesus, L. F. (2025). Towards success: The impact of school head leadership style on school performance – A systematic review. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research and Innovation, 3(1), 173–186.

Ornopia, V. B., Franca, G. C., & Bauyot, M. M. (2022). Instructional management of school principals in implementing new normal learning modality related to teacher competence and school achievement goals: Locus of quality education amidst COVID-19. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 29(2), 11–24.

Padilla, R. M. B., Rayton, M. P. C., Limos-Galay, J. A., & Lazaro, N. J. (2025). Leadership styles and teachers’ performance in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro elementary schools. International Journal of Research Studies in Management, 13(4), 147–165. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsm.2025.25511

Paitao-Dumrang, S. M. (2025). A review on leadership styles of school administrators and their impact on teacher performance. Advance Journal of Education and Social Sciences.

Pana, E. (2024). School heads’ instructional leadership and performance: Basis for strategic leadership program. International Journal of Scientific and Management Research, 7(2), 26–40.

Peralta, L. D. (2024). Teachers’ and school heads’ perceptions of instructional leadership effectiveness in Philippine elementary schools. AIIAS Graduate Research Review, 7(3), 110–128.

Perez, D. B., & Banayo, A. F. (2023). Leadership practices and management behavior of school heads towards quality service and performance of teacher. International Journal of Research Publications, 127(1), 528–536. https://doi.org/10.47119/IJRP1001271620235061

Pitrian, E. (2025). Educational leadership in improving school performance and teacher professional development: A literature review. PPSDP International Journal of Education, 3(2), Article 312.

Precioso, J. T., & Chua, M. D. (2025). Performance of school heads and teachers in public elementary schools. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 8(5), 2772–2784. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v8-i5-18

Prestoza, M.-J. R., & Naldoza, N. D. (2025). Challenges and practices of instructional leadership: A qualitative inquiry of principals’ and teachers’. The Normal Lights, 19(1).

Raman, A., Thannimalai, R., & Jalapang, I. A. (2022). An empirical study on instructional leadership, school climate and teacher efficacy. Journal of Pedagogy and Education Science, 1(2), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.56741/jpes.v1i02.76

Razon, C. D., & Dabuet, J. T. (2023). Leadership styles, school climate, and teacher commitment in public elementary schools in Region III. AIIAS Journal of Education and Development, 18(1), 23–39.

Rehman, A.-U., Khan, M. I., & Waheed, Z. (2019). School heads’ perceptions about their leadership styles. Journal of Education and Educational Development, 6(1), 138–153.

Reyes, P. M. B. (2024). Instructional leadership and learner reading performance in public elementary schools. International Journal of Research in Science and Innovation, 11(2), 45–58.

Rivera, B. H., Jr. (2024). Relationship of instructional leadership practices among school administrators and school performance: Input development of annual improvement plan. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(7), 465–479. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.807040

Rodrigues, H. P. C., & Ávila de Lima, J. (2024). Instructional leadership and student achievement: School leaders’ perspectives. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 27(2), 360–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1869312

Rodulfa, L. (2023). School heads’ instructional leadership and teachers’ sense of efficacy in the implementation of blended teaching modality in Sarangani Province. AIDE Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 2(1), 294–312. https://doi.org/10.56648/aide-irj.v2i1.35

Sanglitan, G. R. (2025). Strategic leadership practices, management behavior, and work engagement on school performance. International Journal of Academic Management Science Research, 9(7), 92–109.

Santos, R. J. (2025). Instructional leadership practices, teacher motivation, and work performance in public schools of Cavite Province. International Journal of Progressive Research in Education, Management, and Sciences, 9(1), 55–72.

Sen, T. T. (2023). Understanding the impact of principals’ instructional leadership on teachers’ self-efficacy in kindergartens of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI), Vietnam (Master’s thesis, De La Salle University, Manila). Animo Repository.

Sharif, U. M. (2020). The role of the principal in developing an instructional leadership team in school. Educational Research and Reviews, 15(11), 662–667.

Shen, J., & Wu, H. (2022). The association between principal leadership and student achievement: A multivariate meta-meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 35, 100423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100423

Shen, J., & Wu, H. (2025). The relationship between principal leadership and student achievement: A multivariate meta-analysis with an emphasis on conceptual models and methodological approaches. Educational Administration Quarterly, 61(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X241286527

Sianipar, A., & Putri, A. Y. (2024). The role of transformational leadership in improving school performance: A systematic literature review (SLR). International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(12), 1403–1415. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8120119

Sultan, F. E., Sudadio, S., & Isti, R. (2025). The impact of school principal leadership, academic supervision, and achievement motivation on teacher performance. International Journal of Recent Educational Research.

Ta Ala, L. P., Sullivan, M. B., & Martir, E. M. (2025). School heads’ readiness, attitude, and experiences in the implementation of the Matatag Curriculum among public integrated schools. International Journal of Science and Management Studies, 8(3), 146–165.

Tang, Y. (2023). Impact of leadership practices of principals and teachers on classroom management and school environment towards an institutional leadership training program. Journal of Education and Educational Research, 5(3), 111–122.

Tonich, T. (2021). The role of principals’ leadership abilities in improving school performance through the school culture. Journal of Social Studies Education Research.

Tuang, J. F., & Quintos, S. B. (2025). Innovative leadership of school principals and teachers’ work behavior and level of commitment. American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation, 4(6), Article 5950.

Ulit, J. (2025). Impact of school heads’ instructional leadership on teaching and learning outcomes: Philippine’s context. Divine Word International Journal of Management and Humanities, 4(3), 2109–2126. https://doi.org/10.62025/dwijmh.v4i3.188

Vahalik, J. R. (2022). Identifying what transformational leadership elements principals are utilizing to retain kindergarten to high school teachers (Doctor of Education dissertation, Walden University). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies.

Vecaldo, R. T. (2019). Instructional leadership beliefs among Filipino pre-service teachers. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 8(4), 596–603. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v8i4.20275

Virtudazo, A. (2024). Academic leadership of school heads and teachers’ professional conduct. PPSDP International Journal of Education, 3(2), 690–701. https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v3i2.355

Watson, P. M. (2024). Leadership practices and instructional strategies to advance student achievement in Title 1 elementary schools (Doctor of Education dissertation, Walden University). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies.

Ylanan, R. S., & Salva, E. T. (2025). Leadership behavior and self-efficacy of principals as determinants of professional learning community practices. International Journal of Education Research, 27(1).

Downloads

Published

2026-04-25

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Capariño, R. (2026). School Heads’ Perception on their Leadership Practices and its Effect on School Performance at San Fernando District. International Journal of Sustainability and Advanced Integrated Research, 2(2), 1078-1086. https://doi.org/10.65339/ijsair.V2.I2.295