Leadership Innovations During COVID-19 Pandemic: Practices of Filipino Principals in Teacher Professional Development

Abstract

This study was focused on how principals manage the professional development of their teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This also explored their practices in providing necessary learning opportunities to teachers during the sudden shift of learning modality. In addition, the practices of principals in managing teachers’ professional development have also been investigated. This study utilized the case study method of research using in‐depth semi‐structured topic‐related interviews with six (6) principals each from elementary, junior high school and senior high school in a division in the National Capital Region in the Philippines. Despite the sudden disruption in education, the principal assumes the responsibility in managing the teacher professional development through employing practices that are temporary in nature suited to the current situation and needs of the organization. First, the principal plans the management of teacher professional development through strategic planning that involves conducting needs analysis and self-assessment among teachers to identify their priority needs. In addition, consulting and engaging stakeholders during planning helps the principal to set clear goals and objectives in managing the teacher professional development. Second, the principal organizes the teacher professional development to coordinate the available resources and planned activities. During the sudden shift in education delivery, online platforms emerge where principal assures that the gap between the learning delivery and activities are being addressed using these platforms. Third, the principal leads the teacher professional development in dealing with changes brought by the pandemic. Leading enables the principal to focus on innovative practices in the content, delivery, and design of the teacher professional development. The principal controls the teacher professional development through conducting monitoring and evaluation.