Decision Making in School Management: Stories of School Heads

Abstract

This study explored the school head’s accounts in decision-making. This included everyday experiences and the reasons for implementation. This shed some light on their decisions as this was an understudied phenomenon.  The researcher narrowed down the highlights and lowlights of the existing issues in online learning, its effectiveness, and the school heads' coping practices on the challenges that come along the way, and I made use of phenomenology. The 10 participants of this study were from the Public Schools in Talomo District, Division of Davao City. I used a semi-structured online interview using the coding technique to analyze the data. The Study discovered that the participants make sound decisions, balancing competing demands and excessive administrative tasks and responsibilities. The coping mechanisms revealed were building relationships and communication and seeking support and collaboration. Some insights gained were collaboration and stakeholder engagement, and professional development and continuous learning, were essential. School heads recognize the significance of collaboration and stakeholder engagement in decision-making. Therefore, communicating effectively allows children to form strong bonds with teachers and peers, making them feel supported and confident The findings underscore the importance of collaborative decision-making processes that involve multiple stakeholders. This has implications for school governance structures, emphasizing the need for inclusive decision-making practices that value the input of teachers, parents, students, and community members.