Date of Award
6-19-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Jacques Singleton
Second Advisor
Peter Ghazarian
Committee Members
Jeremiah Holiday
Abstract
This phenomenological study explored how leadership styles influenced teacher motivation and school climate across three Southern South-Central region states. Through an analysis of 15 interviews, the research explored teachers' lived experiences and interactions with administrators that shaped their motivation, work efficacy, sense of value, and emotional well-being. Three states served as the data pool for the study: Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. Seven themes emerged related to motivation and school climate: Teacher Voice, Support, Empowerment, Relational Confidence, Feeling Valued, Emotional Safety, and Building Community. These themes illuminated how leadership behaviors can either strengthen or hinder teachers’ professional commitment, instructional effectiveness, and overall motivation and school climate. The theoretical framework drew on leadership theories, including transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership, as well as expectancy-value and self-determination theories. Findings provide insight into leadership practices that contribute to teacher motivation and retention. These results confirm and expand upon existing literature, demonstrating that leadership practices grounded in trust, relational awareness, shared decision-making, and ultimately interconnectedness contribute to stronger school environments. Implications for leadership development, teacher retention, teacher motivation, and school improvement are discussed and can inform improvements in leadership practices.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Jennifer L., "The Influence of Leadership Styles on Teacher Motivation and School Climate in Urban Schools from Three South-Central Region States" (2026). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1173.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1173
