THE ROLE OF DISTRIBUTIVE LEADERSHIP PRACTICES IN ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

The study explored the relationship between distributive leadership practices of school heads and professional development of teachers in public elementary schools of Panabo City Division. Also, it investigated the association of the involved variables and the domains of distributive leadership practices of school heads that significantly influence professional development of teachers. With the use of probability sampling, 212 public elementary teachers were selected as the respondents. Utilizing the descriptive-correlational survey method, the data collated were analyzed through the use of Mean, Product-Moment correlation and Regression Analysis. Results revealed that there was a high distributive leadership practices of school heads and a high professional development of teachers among the respondents. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between distributive leadership practices of school heads and a high professional development of teachers. Moreover, all domains of distributive leadership practices of school heads, namely, vision, mission, and goals of the school, school culture, responsibility sharing, and leadership practice, were found to have significantly influence the professional development of teachers. Based on the findings, it was further suggested that higher officials in the Department of Education may create programs that would heighten the distributive leadership practices of school heads which would lead to a more intensified professional development of teachers. More so, future researchers may further explore the involved variables considering other factors and research methods. Keywords: Distributive Leadership Practices; Professional Development; Descriptive Correlationa; Panabo City Division, Philippine