The purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges of distributed leadership in secondary schools of Kembata Tembaro Zone. In order to meet the objectives of the study, descriptive survey design along with mixed (quantitative and qualitative) approaches was employed to conduct the study. Four woredas namely Damboya, Angacha ,Kadida Gamela and Durame city administration secondary schools were addressed by this study. The research included 53.5%(108) respondents of whom 30 school principals (8 main principals and 22 vice-principals ) 66 teachers,4 supervisors and 6 worade and 2 city administration education office experts were selected.. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 66 teachers and 30 school principals(8 main and 22 vice principals) while semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 4 Supervisors and 8 woreda Educational office experts. Document analysis was also a part of this study. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data were analyzed in narrative. As a result of the findings of the study, principals shows low practice in their distributed leadership due to lack of teamwork, work load, lack of communication, poor support from supervisors and education experts. It was recommended that: Kembata Tembaro Zone education department should provide training, define the distributed leader ship clearly for school principals. Woreda education office should provide training to school principals focusing on practice of distributed leader ship. Supervisors and educational experts should support school principals by provide feedback focuses on leading distributed leadership and school principals should prepare project proposal for non-governmental organization.