Authors

Garfield R. Perez*
University of the Immaculate Conception
Davao City, Philippines
Email: garfield.perez@deped.gov.ph

Sylvia J. Pidor, PhD
University of the Immaculate Conception
Davao City, Philippines

Abstract

This quantitative study determined the validity of a multi-variate model that best fits work engagement of school heads as predicted by leadership practices, principal competencies, and job satisfaction using structural equation modelling. The study employed stratified random sampling to determine the respondents who were the school heads of public high school in Region XI. Data were collected using adapted and validated survey questionnaires and were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, correlation and multiple regression. The result showed that the level of leadership practices, principal competencies, job satisfaction and work engagement were all rated as very high. There was a significant relationship between the exogenous variables, leadership practices, principal competencies and job satisfaction and the endogenous variable, work engagement. The best-fit model demonstrated the direct influence of leadership practices and principal competencies on work engagement. Job satisfaction had an indirect influence on work engagement mediated by the job satisfaction.

Keywords: Educational leadership, leadership practices, principal competencies, job satisfaction, work engagement, school heads of public high school, structural equation modeling, Philippines

*Corresponding author

DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0404535

Recommended citation:

Perez, G. R., & Pidor, S. J. (2025). A structural model of work engagement of public secondary school heads as predicted by school leadership practices, principal competencies, and job satisfaction in Region XI. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 4 (4), 5796-5810 . http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0404535

Read the full text

References

Abun, D., Julian, F. P., Calipjo, M. G., & Nicolas, M. T. (2023). Examining the influence of leadership competencies on employees’ work engagement. Divine Word International Journal of Management and Humanities, 2(2), 242–267. https://hal.science/hal-04101992/file/Examining%20the%20Influence%20of%20Leadership%20Competencies%20on%20Employees%E2%80%99%20Work%20Engagement.pdf

Arafat, M. B. A., & Bouchamma, Y. (2024). Competencies of secondary school principals in Cameroon. International Education Studies, 17(3), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v17n3p21

Aquino, C. J. C., Afalla, B. T., & Fabelico, F. L. (2021). Managing educational institutions: School heads’ leadership practices and teachers’ performance. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(4), 1325–1333. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i4.21518

Arif, S., Zainudin, H. K., & Hamid, A. (2019). Influence of leadership, organizational culture, work motivation, and job satisfaction on the performance of senior high school principals in Medan City. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute Journal, 2(4), 239–254.

Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285.

Cai, Y., Liu, P., Tang, R., & Bo, Y. (2023). Distributed leadership and teacher work engagement: The mediating role of teacher efficacy and the moderating role of interpersonal trust. Asia Pacific Education Review, 24(3), 383–397.

Channuwong, S., Chaetnaloa, P., Wongsutthirat, K., Weerachareonchai, P., & Pupapassiri, P. (2024). Good governance principles in Buddhism for business and politics administration. Migration Letters, 21(S1), 818–827.

Chen, C. C. (2024). Practice of leadership competencies by a principal: Case study of a public experimental school in Taiwan. Asia Pacific Education Review, 25(1), 159–170.

Creswell, J. W., & Guetterman, T. C. (2020). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Pearson. https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/educational-research-planning-conducting-and-evaluating-quantitative-and-qualitative-research/P200000000920/9780136874416

Day, C., Gu, Q., & Sammons, P. (2016). The impact of leadership on student outcomes: How successful school leaders use transformational and instructional strategies to make a difference. Educational Administration Quarterly, 52(2), 221–258.

Decuypere, A., & Schaufeli, W. (2020). Leadership and work engagement: Exploring explanatory mechanisms. German Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(1), 69–95.

DiPaola, M., & Wagner, C. A. (2018). Improving instruction through supervision, evaluation, and professional development. Information Age Publishing.

Ermita, L., & Baysa, M. L. (2025). Transformational leadership practices of school heads: Teachers’ motivation and school performance. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan, 3(3), 178–202.

Extremera, N., Mérida-López, S., Sánchez-Álvarez, N., & Quintana-Orts, C. (2018). How does emotional intelligence make one feel better at work? The mediational role of work engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(9), 1909.

Gading, S. J. L. (2024). Instructional leadership practices of the school heads to improve teachers’ performance. United International Journal for Research & Technology, 5(6), 89–119.

Gamero-Burón, C., & Lassibille, G. (2018). Work engagement among school directors and its impact on teachers’ behavior at work. The Journal of Developing Areas, 52(2), 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1353/jda.2018.0020

Ghaicha, A. (2016). Theoretical framework for educational assessment: A synoptic review. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(24), 212–231.

Gillet, N., Fouquereau, E., Vallerand, R. J., Abraham, J., & Colombat, P. (2018). The role of workers’ motivational profiles in affective and organizational factors. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(4), 1151–1174.

Guhao, E. S. Jr., Quines, L. A., Concepcion, K. M. D., & Mines, E. P. (2021). The mediating effect of authentic leadership of school heads on the relationship between teamwork attitudes and work engagement. International Journal of Business Management and Economic Review, 4(6), 304–318. http://doi.org/10.35409/IJBMER.2021.3342

Han, J., Yin, H., Wang, J., & Zhang, J. (2020). Job demands and resources as antecedents of university teachers’ exhaustion, engagement, and job satisfaction. Educational Psychology, 40(3), 318–335.

Hariri, H., & Sumintono, B. (2020). Teacher commitment to teaching. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford University Press.

Leithwood, K. (2021). A review of evidence about equitable school leadership. Education Sciences, 11(8), 377. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11080377

Liu, Y., Fang, Y., Hu, L., Chen, N., Li, X., & Cai, Y. (2024). Inclusive leadership and employee workplace well-being: The role of vigor and supervisor developmental feedback. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 540. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01464-8

Lopes, J. B., & Cunha, A. E. (2017). Self-directed professional development to improve effective teaching: Key points for a model. Teaching and Teacher Education, 68, 262–274.

Naguit, J. (2024). Instructional leadership practices of school heads and performance of teachers in instructional supervision. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies, 4(7), 1–26.

Panunciar, C. R. A., Madrigal, D. V., & Bual, J. M. (2023). Transformational leadership practices and work engagement among school heads: An explanatory sequential mixed-method inquiry. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 62, 34–57. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v62i1.12935

Saks, A. M. (2019). Antecedents and consequences of employee engagement revisited. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 6(1), 19–38.

Schaufeli, W. (2021). Engaging leadership: How to promote work engagement? Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 754556. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.754556

Stronge, J. H., & Xu, X. (2021). Qualities of effective principals. ASCD.

Taqwim, M. (2024). The influence of work culture and work motivation on teacher performance. Journal of Islamic Studies and Education, 3(1), 95–100.

Usman, Y. D. (2016). Educational resources: An integral component for effective school administration in Nigeria. Online Submission, 6(13), 27–37.