Navigating Instructional Leadership in Resource-Constrained Contexts: Lived Experiences of Public-School Heads in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines

Janice C. Maquiling; Analyn Gomez Fernandez; Nhelbourne K. Mohammad; Ibnu Khaldun Sudirman; Rizalul Fiqry

doi:10.56741/IISTR.ijlree.002338

Authors

Janice C. Maquiling
janice.maquiling@deped.gov.ph
Paranglumba Integrated School
Analyn Gomez Fernandez Paranglumba Integrated School
Nhelbourne K. Mohammad Western Philippines University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3318-7791
Ibnu Khaldun Sudirman STKIP Taman Siswa Bima https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3917-1869
Rizalul Fiqry STKIP Taman Siswa Bima https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2016-4697

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/IISTR.ijlree.002338

Keywords:

Instructional Leadership, Lived Experiences, Philippines, Public Schools, School Heads

Abstract

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school heads in managing teaching and learning in public schools within the Division of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 350 purposively selected school heads across eight districts. A sample scope justified by the principle of information power rather than by conventional data-saturation counts alone, given the study’s broad aim of capturing both shared and divergent experiences across a large, geographically diverse division. Data were analyzed using a hybrid analytic strategy that combined Moustakas’s transcendental phenomenological reduction with Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes emerged from the participants' narratives. The first theme, Leadership Amid Constraints, captured how school heads navigate limited resources, heavy administrative workloads, and infrastructural deficits. The second theme, Instructional Support and Pedagogical Guidance, detailed their strategies for mentoring teachers and ensuring curriculum alignment. The third, building a Collaborative School Culture, illuminated their efforts to foster teamwork and community partnerships. The final theme, Adaptive Leadership and Professional Growth, showcased the resilience and commitment to continuous learning that characterized their practice. The findings reveal that school heads function as resilient instructional leaders who balance systemic pressures with a commitment to supporting teachers and learners. The study offers insights for policy formulation and leadership development programs in similar contexts.

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Author Biographies

Janice C. Maquiling, Paranglumba Integrated School

is a teacher III of Paranglumba Integrated School in the Division of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) from Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, in 2003, and her Master of Arts in Education from J. H. Cerilles State College, Dumingag Campus, in 2014. Her master's thesis was titled " Dropout Reduction Strategies of School Administrators and Teachers in the Elementary Schools of Siayan District". (email: janice.maquiling@deped.gov.ph).

Analyn Gomez Fernandez, Paranglumba Integrated School

is a Teacher III at Paranglumba Integrated School in the Division of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. She earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) from Saint Joseph College, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, in 2001, and her Master of Arts in Education (MAED) from Southern Mindanao Colleges, Pagadian City, in 2021. Her master's thesis was titled "Behavioral Management that Builds Strong Teacher-Pupil Relationship in Siayan District I: An Essence to Setup a Structural Learning Environment." Her research interests include classroom management, teacher-pupil relationships, and elementary education. (email: analyn.fernandez01@deped.gov.ph).

Nhelbourne K. Mohammad, Western Philippines University

holds dual PhDs in Islamic Education from Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia, and Comparative Education from Shaanxi Normal University, China. is currently serving as the Research Coordinator of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Philippines University. He specializes in assessment, Islamic education, and comparative education. His scholarly contributions include several publications, with notable articles in Scopus-indexed journals. (email: nk.mohammad@wpu.edu.ph).

Ibnu Khaldun Sudirman, STKIP Taman Siswa Bima

is an academic and higher education leader born in Bima on 17 April 1977, who currently serves as the Chairperson of STKIP Taman Siswa Bima and as a permanent lecturer in the History Education Study Program. He earned a Doctoral degree in Political Science from Universitas Indonesia.. His areas of expertise include political science, local politics and regional autonomy, electoral studies, and governance. He previously served as an Expert Team member from Universitas Indonesia for the Public Relations Institutional Affairs of the Indonesian House of Representatives, a researcher at the Center for Political Studies (CEPP) Universitas Indonesia, a member of the Selection Committee for the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial General Elections Commission, and the Regional Coordinator of the Indonesian Association of Political Science Lecturers for West Nusa Tenggara. (email: tanmaedysu@gmail.com).

Rizalul Fiqry, STKIP Taman Siswa Bima

is an academic at STKIP Taman Siswa Bima, Indonesia, specializing in Physics Education, science education, and learning technology. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral Program in Education at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (admitted in 2025). He obtained a master’s degree in Physics Education from Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (2016–2018) and a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (2005–2011). (email: doudonggo@gmail.com).

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