Leadership and Management Strategies of School Heads in Selected Private Schools: Guide for a Proposed Sustainable Learning Hub


Authors : Angelica Carla C. Baloro; Vyrna R. Salcedo

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 10 - October


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/ysccj6jt

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4fnj6653

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25oct131

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.


Abstract : This study aimed to examine the leadership and management strategies of school heads in selected private schools and how these strategies influence the development of a sustainable learning hub. Using a mixed-methods research design, both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from school administrators through survey instruments and open-ended responses. The analysis focused on key domains including transformational and transactional leadership, strategic planning, resource management, and data-driven decision-making. Findings revealed that school heads are predominantly experienced female professionals with advanced academic qualifications. Transformational and transactional leadership styles were found to be very highly practiced, with strong emphasis on ethical conduct, motivation, and organizational vision. Strategic planning and resource management were also highly rated, though improvements were needed in financial transparency, staff well-being, and stakeholder inclusion. Data-driven decision-making showed a strong positive correlation with school sustainability (r = .85), alongside resource management (r = .83) and strategic planning (r = .65). Despite these strengths, challenges such as limited funding, infrastructure issues, and teacher shortages persisted—factors largely attributed to systemic barriers. Thematic analysis further identified eight guiding themes for a proposed Sustainable Learning Hub: curriculum integration, community engagement, governance, awareness, innovation, data use, faith-based values, and organizational culture. The study concludes that effective leadership and management strategies are essential for sustainable private school operations. However, systemic support and collaborative approaches are equally necessary. The proposed Sustainability in a Learning Hub is recommended as a model to support inclusive, strategic, and ethical educational leadership.

References :

  1. Abbasi, S., Kiran, S., Akhtar, K., & Mahnaz, W. (2025). Transactional leadership and change sustainability: Evaluating principals’ long-term impact on school development. Indus Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.59075/ijss.v3i1.751
  2. Adegbite, A., Bello, Y., & Usman, A. (2022). Work-life balance and leadership engagement in schools. Journal of Educational Research and Development.
  3. Agyekum, A. G. K. (2024). Examining the lived experiences and identity construct of selected headmistresses of senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis: A mixed method study. Texila International Journal of Academic Research, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.21522/TIJAR.2014.11.03.Art004
  4. Al-Husseini, S., & Elbeltagi, I. (2021). Transactional vs transformational leadership for effective school management: A comparative study. Management in Education.
  5. Ali, M., & Nawaz, A. (2021). Impact of leadership experience on school management effectiveness. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
  6. Alwali, Joather, and Wafaa Alwali. " The relationship between emotional intelligence,    transformational leadership, and performance: A test of the mediating role of job satisfaction." Leadership & Organization Development Journal 43.6 (2022): 928-952.
  7. Babbie, E. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
  8. Bakti, Rizal, and Sri Hartono. "The influence of transformational leadership and work discipline on the work performance of education service employees." Multicultural Education 8.01 (2022): 109-125.
  9. Bagrationi, K., & Gordienko, O. (2024). Dynamics of organisational change: Resistance, readiness, and the road ahead. European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 19(1), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.34190/ecie.19.1.2785
  10. Bakker, Arnold B., et al. "Daily transformational leadership: A source of inspiration for follower performance?." European Management Journal 41.5 (2023): 700-708.
  11. Bautista, M. A., Reyes, E. L., & Santos, R. C. (2020). Educational attainment and leadership competency among private school administrators. Philippine Journal of Education and Leadership.
  12. Berkovich, Izhak, and Ori Eyal. "Transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and moral reasoning." Leadership and Policy in Schools 20.2 (2021): 131-148.
  13. Blanchard, Ken, and Renee Broadwell. Servant leadership in action: How you can achieve great relationships and results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2021.
  14. Bratko, M. (2024). Talent-management as an innovative strategy of corporate training and development of personnel of an educational organization. Pedagogical Education: Theory and Practice. Psychology. Pedagogy, (4), 11. https://doi.org/10.28925/2311-2409.2024.411
  15. Canavesi, Alice, and Eliana Minelli. "Servant leadership: A systematic literature review and network analysis." Employee responsibilities and rights journal (2021): 1-23.
  16. Chakraborty, S., & Subramaniam, A. (2020). Gender and leadership styles: Insights in the educational sector. Educational Administration Quarterly.
  17. Clark, S., Wertzberger, E., & Darvishinia, N. (2023). Rethinking rural educational contexts as sites for teacher education to innovate teaching and learning. Education and New Developments 2023 – Volume 2. https://doi.org/10.36315/2023v2end035
  18. Deng, Connie, et al. "Transformational leadership effectiveness: an evidence-based primer." Human Resource Development International 26.5 (2023): 627-641.
  19. Dutta, Sumedha, and Puja Khatri. "Servant leadership and positive organizational behaviour: The road ahead to reduce employees’ turnover intentions." On the Horizon 25.1 (2019): 60-82.
  20. Fabrao, M. C. C., & Pacadaljen, L. M. (2024). A reflection of financial stewardship in schools through fiscalizing behaviors of school heads in Samar, Philippines. Environment and Social Psychology, 9(10). https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i10.3165
  21. Fiedler, Fred E. "A contingency model of leadership effectiveness." Advances in experimental social psychology. Vol. 1. Academic Press, 2019 149-190.
  22. Filho, W. L., Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Caldana, A. C. F., Will, M., Lange Salvia, A., Rampasso, I. S., Anholon, R., Platje, J., & Kovaleva, M. (2020). Sustainability leadership in higher education institutions: An overview of challenges. Sustainability, 12(9), 3761. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093761
  23. Fitrian, F. (2025). The dynamic of transformational leadership: Diving into voices of vocational school principals. Asian Journal of Engineering, Social and Health. https://doi.org/10.46799/ajesh.v4i1.526
  24. Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2019). How to design and evaluate research in education (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
  25. Galorio, I. J. N., & Bauyot, M. M. (2024). Cultivating resilience: Multiple case study of school heads’ leadership in integrated senior high schools. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 50(6). https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2024/v50i61420
  26. Gaspar, M. R., Gabriel, J. P., Manuel, M. B., Ladrillo, D. S., Gabriel, E. R., & Gabriel, A. G. (2022). Transparency and accountability of managing school financial resources. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.5296/jpag.v12i2.20146
  27. Hu, Y. (2024). Influence of school administrators’ transformational leadership on the innovation ability of university teachers. Journal of Education and Educational Research, 7(2), 79–89. https://doi.org/10.54097/bmt8jx37
  28. Khan, Natalie. "Adaptive or transactional leadership in current higher education: A brief comparison." International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning 18.3 (2020): 178-183.
  29. Kloutsiniotis, Panagiotis V., et al. "Transformational Leadership, HRM practices and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of personal stress, anxiety, and workplace loneliness." International Journal of Hospitality Management 102 (2022): 103177.
  30. Li, C., Hallinger, P., & Ko, J. (2022). Leadership for learning and teacher professional development: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Educational Management.
  31. Lyubykh, Zhanna, et al. "Shared transformational leadership and safety behaviours of employees, leaders, and teams: A multilevel investigation." Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 95.2 (2022): 431-458.
  32. Mahabub, S., Hossain, M. R., & Snigdha, E. Z. (2025). Data-driven decision-making and strategic leadership: AI-powered business operations for competitive advantage and sustainable growth. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.32996/jcsts.2025.7.1.24
  33. Mangundu, J., Makwara, C., & Thaba-Nkadimene, K. (2025). Barriers to sustainable integration of ICT in Pietermaritzburg public secondary schools. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i2.3856
  34. Mehmood, Muhammad Shahid, et al. "Entrepreneurial leadership: The key to develop creativity in organizations." Leadership & Organization Development Journal 42.3 (2021): 434-452.
  35. Murugi, R. M., & Mugwe, M. (2023). Stakeholders’ involvement and school leadership for effective implementation of strategic planning. Journal of Research Innovation and Implications in Education. https://doi.org/10.59765/fa59zan3
  36. Mwananyama, E., & Song, H. (2023). Teachers’ retention and recruitment in rural areas in Tanzania and China. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 49(4). https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2023/v49i41221
  37. Nguyen, T. H., Nguyen, M. H., & Nguyen, N. T. (2021). Transformational leadership and innovation in education: A systematic review. Educational Management Administration & Leadership.
  38. Nurinaya, N., & Marhumi, S. (2025). Leadership strategy evaluation and succession planning in preparing the company’s future leaders. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v3i1.405
  39. Pauceanu, Alexandrina Maria, et al. "Entrepreneurial leadership and sustainable development—a systematic literature review." Sustainability 13.21 (2021): 11695.
  40. Rahman, M. H., et al. (2021). Positional leadership roles and their influence on school outcomes. Journal of School Leadership and Management.
  41. Ratsuanjit, T., & Wannakum, W. (2024). Academic leadership of educational institution administrators under the jurisdiction of Udon Thani Primary Educational Service Office Area 2. Interdisciplinary Academic and Research Journal, 4(5), 1105–1126. https://doi.org/10.60027/iarj.2024.276976
  42. Romadhona, F., & Mursyidah, L. (2024). Transformational leadership in Muhammadiyah association for community growth. Indonesian Journal of Cultural and Community Development. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijccd.v15i3.1100
  43. Stock, George, et al. "Putting leader (follower) behavior back into transformational leadership: A theoretical and empirical course correction." The Leadership Quarterly (2022): 101632.
  44. Scuotto, Veronica, et al. "An alternative way to predict knowledge hiding: The lens of transformational leadership." Journal of Business Research 140 (2022): 76-84.
  45. Suharyanto, Ary, and Rizky Dwi Lestari. "The fall and rise of the contingency theory of leadership." Iapa Proceedings Conference. 2020.
  46. Sule, M., & Amali, O. (2021). The influence of demographic variables on leadership styles in educational institutions. International Journal of Educational Management.
  47. Virick, M., & Greer, C. R. (2012). Gender diversity in leadership succession: Preparing for the future. Human Resource Management, 51(4), 575–600. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21487
  48. Yasin, H., & Mokhtar, M. (2022). Practices of accountability and transparency in financial management among secondary school principals. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(9). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i9/14803

This study aimed to examine the leadership and management strategies of school heads in selected private schools and how these strategies influence the development of a sustainable learning hub. Using a mixed-methods research design, both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from school administrators through survey instruments and open-ended responses. The analysis focused on key domains including transformational and transactional leadership, strategic planning, resource management, and data-driven decision-making. Findings revealed that school heads are predominantly experienced female professionals with advanced academic qualifications. Transformational and transactional leadership styles were found to be very highly practiced, with strong emphasis on ethical conduct, motivation, and organizational vision. Strategic planning and resource management were also highly rated, though improvements were needed in financial transparency, staff well-being, and stakeholder inclusion. Data-driven decision-making showed a strong positive correlation with school sustainability (r = .85), alongside resource management (r = .83) and strategic planning (r = .65). Despite these strengths, challenges such as limited funding, infrastructure issues, and teacher shortages persisted—factors largely attributed to systemic barriers. Thematic analysis further identified eight guiding themes for a proposed Sustainable Learning Hub: curriculum integration, community engagement, governance, awareness, innovation, data use, faith-based values, and organizational culture. The study concludes that effective leadership and management strategies are essential for sustainable private school operations. However, systemic support and collaborative approaches are equally necessary. The proposed Sustainability in a Learning Hub is recommended as a model to support inclusive, strategic, and ethical educational leadership.

CALL FOR PAPERS


Paper Submission Last Date
31 - December - 2025

Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe