The study explored the leadership skills of elementary teachers in the Labo West District during the School Year 2024–2025, focusing on instructional, interpersonal, organizational, and contextual dimensions. It aimed to identify challenges encountered in their leadership roles, examine the relationship between these challenges and their leadership competencies, and propose targeted interventions for improvement. Grounded in inclusive distributed leadership, instructional leadership, and cultural intelligence frameworks, the study utilized a quantitative survey of purposively selected respondents. Findings revealed that teachers exhibited strong leadership qualities, particularly in designing engaging lessons and fostering stakeholder communication. However, areas such as instructional strategies, conflict resolution, time management, and adaptability to policy changes emerged as opportunities for growth. Teachers faced significant challenges, including limited access to research, financial constraints, and poverty-related community issues, which hindered their effectiveness. Notably, no significant correlation was observed between teachers leadership skills and the challenges they faced, highlighting the impact of external factors such as school resources and institutional culture on leadership outcomes. In response, the study proposed LEADNet, a Professional Learning Community framework aligned with DepEds Learning Action Cells, which emphasizes collaboration, resource sharing, professional development, and community engagement to strengthen teacher leadership and enhance educational outcomes. The study concluded that while teachers displayed strong leadership skills, addressing gaps requires targeted professional development, improved access to resources, and systemic support. Recommendations included implementing LEADNet, fostering partnerships with educational institutions, and examining socio-political and cultural factors to develop a holistic approach to improving teacher leadership and education quality in the district. This study underscores the importance of empowering educators to navigate challenges effectively, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable educational system.

Leadership Challenges

Community Engagement

Professional Development

Elementary School Teachers

Leadership Skills