Abstract :

To thrive today, school leaders must cultivate competencies that respond effectively to real-world challenges. This study examines the core behavioral and leadership competencies of identified school heads as basis for the development of a guidebook to enhance their professional development. The descriptive qualitative design was used to gather the school head’s leadership competencies, describe the induction programs attended and their experiences, and develop a guidebook to enhance their behavioral and leadership competencies. Results showed that exposure to the induction program greatly improves the leadership competencies of the school heads. Attendance to training supports school heads in translating their knowledge into a more visible and effective recognition of it as part of their leadership identity. However, the study also found out that the induction program showed inconsistency in terms of opportunity, timing, program naming, content delivery, and strengthened mentorship. Based on these findings, the study suggests institutionalizing the use of this guidebook to cater to inclusion and serve as a complementary tool to the school head’s induction program to enhance leadership competencies. The study also proposes to explore a localized induction program, such as a district level, bridge the gap of inclusion to provide need-based content and conduct a future study on the long-term effects of the guidebook in enhancing the core behavioral and leadership competencies of school heads.

---

Keywords :

core behavioral competencies, guidebook, leadership competencies, professional development

---

References :

1. Agravante, M. B., Digo, G. S., & Janer, S. S. (2023b). Upskilling of the school heads in the new normal. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(6), 2509-2524.

https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v2i6.4257

2. Alagos, R. (2024). School heads’ innovativeness, leadership competence, and productivity. International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 6(4), 114-121. https://doi.org/10.54476/ioer-imrj/688319
3. Amado, J. A., Guzman, N. R. D., Ayo, J. P. D., Equipado, B. D., Polon, J. H., Rejuso, R. M., & Digo, G. S. (2025). Financial Management Practices of Elementary School Heads: A Case Study. ASEAN Journal of Economic and Economic Education, 4(1), 25-40. https://ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara.id/index.php/ajeee/article/view/566
4. Arrieta, G., & Ancho, I. (2020). Ready or not: The experiences of novice academic heads in school leadership. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 19(5), 78–98. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.5.5
5. Bagiw, J. (2025). Managerial competence of school heads: A literature review. Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 5(6), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.47760/cognizance.2025.v05i06.015
6. Barola, R. C., & Digo, G. S. (2022a). Improving school heads’ strategic leadership: A call for policymakers. Lux Veritatis, 7, 18-25. https://luxveritatis.ust-legazpi.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LUX-V7-2.pdf
7. Bickmore, D., Gonzales, M., & Roberts, M. (2021). Exploring school leaders’ communities of practice and school improvement. NASSP Bulletin, 105(3), 173–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/01926365211033937
8. Bobier, I. A., & Chua, V. L. (2025). Capacitating Aspiring School Heads: A Grounded Theory Study on Leadership Development. United International Journal for Research & Technology, 6(30), 137-152.https://uijrt.com/paper/capacitating-aspiring-school-heads-grounded-theory-study-leadership-development
9. Brooks, M. (2017). Southern Filipino school leaders and religious diversity: A typology. International Journal of Educational Management, 31(5), 646–660. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijem-08-2016-0164
10. Carcueva, R., & Ureta, R. (2024). A closer look at Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH): Career stages and leadership practices. JHER, 12 (Special), 161–179. https://doi.org/10.70228/pfree2024023jher
11. DO 42, s. 2017 – National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers | Department of Education. (2017, August 11). Department of Education. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2017/08/11/do-42-s-2017-national-adoption-and-implementation-of-the-philippine-professional-standards-for-teachers/
12. Enriquez, R. (2026). Espousing competence in governance and management of school heads: An innovative training blueprint. Pantao (International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences), 5(1), 8957-8965. https://doi.org/10.69651/pijhss0501803
13. Españo, A. (2025). Public speaking confidence as a crucial asset for leadership development in academic settings. Environment and Social Psychology, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i4.3193
14. Foster, J. J. B., & Digo, G. S. (2024). Improving School Heads’ Digital Skills through e-Books on Canvas as a Learning Management System. ASEAN Journal of Open and Distance Learning, 16(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.64233/gazj8552
15. Mariano, M. T., & Solomon, J. Y. (2024). Organizational commitment as influenced by caring school leadership and empowerment: a convergent design. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, XI(XII), 123–142. https://doi.org/10.51244/ijrsi.2024.11120014
16. Nasabi, N. A., Yusefi, A. R., & Bordbar, N. (2026). The impact of creative thinking on organizational maturity and the mediating role of experiential learning among knowledge management professionals. Scientific Reports, 16, Article 8604. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39905-6

 

17. Nwabuatu, E. N. P. D. (2025). Strategic goal setting: Investigating the impact of smart goals on organizational performance in Anambra State. Academic Journal of Current Practice In Business and Management, 10(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14921716
18. Ortiz, O., Amit, B., Tamoro, B., Pescador, J., & Obeso, L. (2025). Leadership styles and organizational culture. PANTAO International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(2), 840-845. https://doi.org/10.69651/pijhss040279
19. Palacio, H. G., & Digo, G. S. (2024). Development of handbook on instructional coaching and mentoring for master teachers. International Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies, 4(4), 326-337. https://doi.org/10.55677/ijssers/v04i4y2024-08
20. Patiga, J. (2025). Philippine professional standards for school heads and its impact on the performance of public elementary schools. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(5), 13-25. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.037
21. Sandelowski, M. (2000). Whatever happened to qualitative description? Research in Nursing & Health, 23(4), 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200008)23:4<334::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-G
22. Semblante, H. L., & Sambo, T. (2025). School heads’ core behavioral and leadership competencies: basis for action plan. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 44(5), 578–587. https://doi.org/10.70838/pemj.440506
23. Su, X., Jiang, X., Xie, G., Huang, M., & Xu, A. (2022). How does self-sacrificial leadership foster knowledge-sharing behavior in employees? moral ownership, felt obligation, and supervisor-subordinate, Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 910707. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.910707
24. Villamor, S. (2025). Collaboration and teamwork in elementary school leadership: Experiences of school administrators. Nexus International Journal of Science and Education, 2(4), 1-37. https://nijse.org/index.php/home/article/view/480/475
25. Ye, Z., Shang, X., Shafait, Z., & Xu, Y. (2022). Impact of leading by example on employees’ organizational and job psychological ownership: A moderated mediation study.