Transformational leadership: school climate and teacher morale in a secondary school setting.

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20361057

Over the last ten years, teacher morale has steadily declined in the United States due to a variety of issues including high stakes testing, political attacks, and a general uncertainty fostered on the profession. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that has the ability to create a positive school climate and improve teacher morale. The research questions answered in this study were the following: 1. How does transformational leadership impact school climate? 2. Can transformational leadership impact teacher morale? The theory used in this project was transformational leadership theory. This theory first emerged in the 1970s and is examined presently in various mediums including business, politics, health care, athletics, and education. This was an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) qualitative study. Participants of this study included five teachers and two school administrators. Teachers sat for a thirty to forty-five minute interview. School administrators did as well, and also took the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X). The MLQ-5X measures transformational leadership qualities in leaders. Five themes were identified from interviews with teacher participants as having the potential to create a positive school climate with high teacher morale. These included the following: (1) transparency, (2) the creation of buy-in, (3) the acceptance and acknowledgment of feedback, (4) upward mobility, and (5) motivation. Four themes were identified during interviews with school administrator participants as having the capacity to create a positive school climate with high teacher morale. These included the following: (1) transparency, (2) purposeful change, (3) creation of a positive rapport, (4) motivating and inspiring teachers. The findings of this study suggest that when implemented properly, transformational leadership can create a positive school climate with high teacher morale. Keywords: transformational leadership, teacher morale, school climate, Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire