Relationships among principal leadership behaviors, teachers' motivation, and teacher job satisfaction

Advisors: Kelly H. Summers; Stephen Tonks.Committee members: Brad Hawk; Kelly H. Summers; Stephen Tonks.Includes bibliographical references.Certain transformational and transactional leadership behaviors exhibited by principals are effective in creating a work environment that supports teacher autonomy and higher levels of teacher job satisfaction. In an age of school reform and increased pressures on teachers to improve student performance, few studies have examined the relationships between principal leadership behaviors, teacher motivation, and teacher job satisfaction. The current study used data gathered from principals to examine the relationships between a principal's transformational and transactional leadership practices and a teacher's autonomous and controlled motivations. In addition, the relationship between a principal's leadership practices and a teacher's level of job satisfaction was examined. Additional analyses were conducted to examine the potential moderating effect of teacher motivation on the relationship between principal leadership style and teacher job satisfaction. Implications for principal training programs, professional development, and future directions for research are discussed.Ed.D. (Doctor of Education