TITLE:
Leadership Behaviors and Other Factors Affecting the Motivation and Retention of Public School Teachers
AUTHORS:
Canadra Jimerson, Robert E. Levasseur
KEYWORDS:
Leadership, Motivation, Retention, Educational Leadership, Leadership Behavior
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Leadership,
Vol.14 No.4,
December
24,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study addressed the alarming rate of public school teachers leaving the profession and the leadership factors influencing it. The research explored two questions: 1) What factors affect teachers’ motivation to remain in the profession? and 2) What leadership behaviors impact this motivation? The research was guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Using a qualitative, phenomenological design, the study examined the lived experiences of 10 teachers from a Tennessee school district. Data were collected through one-on-one, semistructured Zoom interviews. Participants verified interviews before thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. The findings provide insights for school leaders and teachers by clarifying how leadership behaviors and other factors influence teacher retention, which could have broader implications for public school districts.