Challenges and Practices of Instructional Leadership: A Qualitative Inquiry of Principals' and Teachers'
Main Article Content
Keywords
achievement, Instructional leadership, school principals, teachers practices
Abstract
This study examines the challenges and practices of instructional leadership from the perspectives of school principals and teachers, highlighting their importance in enhancing teaching quality and student outcomes. A qualitative approach was employed, involving focus groups and interviews with five principals and seven teachers, to ensure diverse representation. Thematic analysis was guided by the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS). Key challenges identified include balancing administrative and instructional roles, maintaining consistent leadership practices, utilizing data effectively for informed decision-making, engaging the community and parents, managing resource limitations, and adapting to ongoing educational changes. Effective practices highlighted include engagement and collaboration, data-driven improvements, ongoing professional development, and active parental involvement. The findings emphasize the need to address these challenges while implementing effective practices to establish a strategic instructional leadership framework. This framework aims to enhance teaching practices, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and ultimately improve student learning outcomes, contributing to sustainable educational success.
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Rodrigues, H. P., & Ávila de Lima, J. (2021). Instructional leadership and student achievement: School leaders' perspectives. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 27, 360-384. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1869312
Rojas, J., & Fuentes, P. (2022). ¿Qué hacen los líderes educativos para la instalación de una práctica de uso de datos para la toma de decisiones? RLE. Revista de Liderazgo Educacional. https://doi.org/10.29393/rle2-5qhrf20005
Semon, S., Lane, D., & Jones, P. (2022). Mapping collaboration across international inclusive educational contexts. In International perspectives on inclusive education (Vol. 18, pp. 65–80). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-363620220000018005
Shujau-Abdul-Raheem, M. (2023). Best practices of instructional leadership among principals of primary and secondary schools in Male', Maldives. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM). https://doi.org/10.18535/ijsrm/v11i10.el04
Torrato, J. B., Aguja, S. E., Prudente, M. S., & Ramos, R. P. (2023). Teachers' perceptions on instructional leadership: Drawing implications for professional development program for instructional leaders. International Journal of Learning and Teaching. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijlt.9.4.402-408
van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. State University of New York Press.
Virador, G. P. (2023). Practices of school heads in promoting partnership on parental and community involvement. International Journal of Research Publications. https://doi.org/10.47119/ijrp1001241520234922
World Bank. (2022). Philippines education note: Addressing the learning crisis in the Philippines. World Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1833-2
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Yosief, A., Sulieman, M., & Biede, T. (2022). Improving the practices of teacher educators through collaborative action research: Challenges and hopes. Educational Action Research, 32, 204-221. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2022.2066147
Aina, J. K., & Abdulwasiu, A. A. (2023). Teachers' effective use of educational resources and their effect on students' learning. Üniversitepark Bülten.
Arrieta, G. S., Ancho, I. V., Pineda, M. D., Carandang, H. A., & Pf, K. A. (2020). Assessment of principal’s instructional leadership in selected public schools: Basis for instructional development program. Jurnal Penjaminan Mutu, 6, 146-158. https://doi.org/10.25078/JPM.V6I2.1305
Awan, R., Jabeen, F., & Ali, G. (2022). Assessing instructional leadership behaviors of the heads of secondary schools. Journal of Arts & Social Sciences (JASS), 9(1). https://doi.org/10.46662/jass.v9i1.117
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Department of Education. (2020, June 19). DepEd Order No. 012, s. 2020: Adoption of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for School Year 2020-2021 in light of the COVID‑19 public health emergency. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/06/19/june-19-2020-do-012-2020-adoption-of-the-basic-educationlearning-continuity-plan-for-school-year-2020-2021-in-the-light-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency/
Eden, C. A., Chisom, O. N., & Adeniyi, I. S. (2024). Parent and community involvement in education: Strengthening partnerships for social improvement. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i3.894
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). https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.6.1.1080
Hallinger P. (2003). Leading Educational Change: reflections on the practice of instructional and transformational leadership. Cambridge Journal of Education, 33(3), 329-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764032000122005
Hallinger, P. (2011). Leadership for learning: Lessons from 40 years of empirical research. Journal of Educational Administration, 49(2), 125-142. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231111116699
Hallinger, P., & Murphy, J. (1985). Assessing the instructional management behavior of principals. The Elementary School Journal, 86(2), 217-247. https://doi.org/10.1086/461445
Hallinger, P., Wang, W., & Chen, C. (2013). Assessing the measurement properties of the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale. Educational Administration Quarterly, 49, 272-309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X12468149
Hsieh, C., Chen, Y., & Li, H. (2023). Impact of school leadership on teacher professional collaboration: Evidence from multilevel analysis of Taiwan TALIS 2018. Journal of Professional Capital and Community. https://doi.org/10.1108/jpcc-01-2023-0002
Hunter, S. B. (2023). The (In)Consistency of Teacher Survey Responses About Teacher Evaluation Implementation: Implications for Principal Professional Development. Educational Researcher, 52(8), 512-515. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X231189273 (Original work published 2023)
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
Lingam, G. I., Lingam, N., & Singh, S. K. (2021). Instructional leadership practices: Teachers' perceptions of a rural school principal in Fiji. Australian Journal of Teacher Education. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n6.2
Musengamana, I., Shaoan, M. R., Namanyane, T. M., Lafferty, N., & Uzochukwu, O. M. (2024). Teachers' role in school decision-making process: A case study of teachers and school leaders' perceptions in Rwanda public secondary school. Asia Social Issues. https://doi.org/10.48048/asi.2024.267161
Nguyen, H. T., Vu, N. T., Ha, X. V., Dinh, H. T., Truong, T. D., & Reynolds, B. L. (2023). Principal instructional leadership and its influence on teachers' professional development at Vietnamese primary schools. Education 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2023.2195409
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. https://doi.org/10.37502/IJSMR.2024.7203
Polkinghorne, D. E. (1989). Phenomenological research methods. In R. S. Valle & S. Halling (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological perspectives in psychology (pp. 41-60). Springer.
Rodrigues, H. P., & Ávila de Lima, J. (2021). Instructional leadership and student achievement: School leaders' perspectives. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 27, 360-384. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2020.1869312
Rojas, J., & Fuentes, P. (2022). ¿Qué hacen los líderes educativos para la instalación de una práctica de uso de datos para la toma de decisiones? RLE. Revista de Liderazgo Educacional. https://doi.org/10.29393/rle2-5qhrf20005
Semon, S., Lane, D., & Jones, P. (2022). Mapping collaboration across international inclusive educational contexts. In International perspectives on inclusive education (Vol. 18, pp. 65–80). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-363620220000018005
Shujau-Abdul-Raheem, M. (2023). Best practices of instructional leadership among principals of primary and secondary schools in Male', Maldives. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM). https://doi.org/10.18535/ijsrm/v11i10.el04
Torrato, J. B., Aguja, S. E., Prudente, M. S., & Ramos, R. P. (2023). Teachers' perceptions on instructional leadership: Drawing implications for professional development program for instructional leaders. International Journal of Learning and Teaching. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijlt.9.4.402-408
van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. State University of New York Press.
Virador, G. P. (2023). Practices of school heads in promoting partnership on parental and community involvement. International Journal of Research Publications. https://doi.org/10.47119/ijrp1001241520234922
World Bank. (2022). Philippines education note: Addressing the learning crisis in the Philippines. World Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1833-2
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Yosief, A., Sulieman, M., & Biede, T. (2022). Improving the practices of teacher educators through collaborative action research: Challenges and hopes. Educational Action Research, 32, 204-221. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2022.2066147
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Published
Jun 25, 2025
Article Details
How to Cite
Prestoza, M.-J., & Naldoza, N. (2025). Challenges and Practices of Instructional Leadership: A Qualitative Inquiry of Principals’ and Teachers’. The Normal Lights, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.56278/tnl.v19i1.3112
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Research Article
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