Abstract
School administrators face high expectations from society and teachers. While it is
generally accepted that leadership practices contribute to overall school excellence, what
remains unknown are the specific leadership behaviors that promote a positive school
experience. Guided by James Burns’s leadership theory, this case study in an upstate
South Carolina middle school examined what specific behaviors of middle school
principals effectively contributed to a positive school morale. This study included teacher
opinions concerning their principal; morale; suggestions for improvement, including fair
decision-making; and barriers to a positive school climate, such as meeting both national
and state mandates. Key transformational leadership behaviors were identified through
the Leadership Practices Inventory and the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire. Research
questions examined the association between administrative leadership qualities and
teacher morale. Seven teachers from 3 different grade levels and 5 subject areas in the
participating school volunteered for participation in this study. Data from personal
interviews and focus groups were coded and analyzed using content analysis of common
themes. Findings indicated that school administrators who practiced transformational
leadership skills, such as establishing trust and developing relationships, improved
teacher morale and created a positive school climate. Recommendations include offering
professional learning experiences and training programs for school leaders. Such
recommendations may lead to improved leadership practices, greater teacher morale, and
a more positive school climate, all of which may lead to increased student achievement