ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN MANAGING A SCHOOL COMMUNITY

This study particularly dealt with the challenges faced by school managers in Polillo District in Polillo, Quezon along their work requirements, relation with the profession, relationship with high authorities, and relation with external stakeholders. It also identified the strategies used to address the challenges they experience. Descriptive method of research was used and a questionnaire was utilized in gathering data. Frequency, percentage, weighted mean, t-test, and ANOVA were used as statistical tools. Results revealed that the challenges encountered by the school heads in terms of work requirements, relationship with higher authorities, and relationship with external stakeholders were fairly serious while there were no serious challenges encountered in terms of disaster preparedness management. School heads highly practice the conduct of regular meetings to provide professional growth for teaching staff, proper time scheduling in making and submitting needed forms and keeping updated with memos and other data that need to be submitted to address challenges, exploration of possibilities for connections who could help in the school improvement as well as establishment of good public relations, and the “bayanihan spirit” during community assemblies and establishment of sound relationship with local officials for provisions of adequate facilities. Their responses varied when the teachers are grouped as to age, gender, educational attainment, and when the school heads are grouped as to years of experience as school heads and number of teachers supervised. Their responses did not vary on the strategies used by the school heads to address the challenges encountered when they are grouped as to age and sex. School heads and teachers differed in their perceptions on the challenges encountered but did not differ in terms of the strategies used to address challenges.