Teachers' perceptions of leadership skills associated with the principalship in Central Luzon Conference, Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the perceptions of selected Adventist elementary and secondary school teachers of Central Luzon Conference in the Philippines as to the leaderships skills of their principals.These perceptions were identified through interviews and questionnaires. The study specifically sought answers' to these questions: (1) What are the leadership attributes identified by teachers in principals of successful school? (2) Which attributes do teachers see as the most important leadership skills? (3) fue Adventist elementary and secondary school teachers' perceptions oftheir principals' leadership skills similar to the leadership skills outlined by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)? (4) Are the perceptions of teachers expressed in a questionnaire on leadership skills similar to the perceptions of interviewed teachers?

In this study, twelve teachers were purposively selected from twelve schools noted for their excellent achievement. They were interviewed about their principal's leadership. Later, all 92 teachers from those schools were administered a questionnaire reiated to the (NASSP) leadership skills.

The major findings of the study were: (1) The attributes of selected school principals as perceived by teachers were planning, organizing, problem analysis/solving, decision-making, judgment, visible presence, leadership, Christ-centered leadership, communication ability, collegiality, human relations, ethical/moral values, motivation ability, stress tolerance, range of interests, philosophical/cultural values. (2) The majority (more than 7) of interviewed teachers recognized 15 skills as important for principals. (3) The interviewed teachers perceived the NASSP skills as important and their percepions of the NASSP skills were basicly similar to the descriptions outlined by the NASSP. The finding of questionnaire also indicated that they were frequently practiced by the principals. (a) The profiles ofprincipals show that perceptions of respondents to questionnaire on their principals' leadership skills were similar to perceptions of the interviewed teachers about their principals' leadership.

While it was important to find out that all principals practiced many skills, it was of greater significance to find that several ofthe NASSP skills were perceived to be essential to these schools. This investigation also pointed out Christian leadership, human relations, and ethica/moral values as being essential. Some of these skills mentioned also reflected certain cultural trends typical of Asians toward leaders. The fact that the questionnaire data revealed more criticisms of principals' skills than interviews was also a clear indication of this.

Recommendations to principals included attending leadership training and seminars and participation in professional growth activities in the areas of decisionmaking, spirituality, organization, and human relations. The study also recommends related investigations with a larger number of participants and in other similar contexts in Asia.