Title

An Examination of the Relationship Between Principal Leadership Styles and Teacher Turnover Rates

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Department

Educational Administration

Date of Award

Summer 2020

Abstract

Research by Ladd (2009) and Boyd et al. (2011) has shown that the retention of teachers may be affected by the principal’s leadership style. Weinbaum, Weiss, and Beaver (2012) also identified a principal’s leadership style as one reason a teacher chooses to leave the profession. This quantitative study examined the relationship between the principal’s perceived leadership style and the teacher’s perception of the principal’s leadership style. The study also examined the predictive relationship and the correlation between the principals perceived leadership style, the teacher’s perception of the principal’s leadership style, pay, supervision, job satisfaction, and teacher turnover. The leadership styles addressed in this study were transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire. The results of this study found that pay was not a significant factor relative to teacher retention, and transformational or transactional leadership supported job satisfaction and teacher retention. The research instruments used to measure leadership styles were the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Leader and Rater Forms. The Job Descriptive Index was used to measure teacher pay, supervision, and job satisfaction. To measure teacher turnover the Turnover Intention Scale was used.

Advisor

Melissa Arrambide

Subject Categories

Education | Educational Administration and Supervision

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