Best Practices of School Heads Towards Building a Leadership Model for Aspiring School Heads

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Achieving the best for pupils' education depend on the principal or school head whose values, attributes, educational knowledge, expertise, and leadership skills are of extreme vitality. An aspiring school head needs to be well prepared and well equipped with the relevant knowledge, skills, and dispositions for the position.

METHODS

Theresearcherutilizedthedescriptive-evaluative-correlational method. The statistical tools used were frequency count, percentage technique, weighted mean, Mann-Whitney U Test and Chi-SquareTest.

RESULTS

On the best practices of the school heads, personal integrity and interpersonal effectiveness, and creating a student-centered learning climate were rated as outstanding. On school leadership, instructional leadership, parent involvement and community partnership, school management and daily operations, and professional development and HR management were rated very satisfactory. There are significant differenced on the perceptions of the two groups of respondents along school leadership; professional development and HR Management; school management and daily operations and personal integrity and interpersonal effectiveness. There are no significant differences on instructional Leadership Creating a Student-Centered Learning Climate and, Parent Involvement and Community Partnership. The Leadership Model is intended for the preparation and development of aspiring school heads who can lead the school towards its goals.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrate the need for aspiring school heads to continuously undertake academic training and professional development. Enrolling in the graduate and post graduate programs is necessary. School heads should continuously work on personal and professional developments and conduct individual reflections in the domains where school heads need improvement. They should continuously aspire to become role models for aspiring school heads. There is a need to continue this research regarding the relationship between the best practices of the school heads using other parameters that were not used in the present study. The school heads should aspire and work for continuous professional development because the academic preparation and trainings are significant positive indicators towards performance as school heads. The leadership model may be used as a guide, a tool, and framework for aspiring school heads.