The effect of organizational trust on the culture of teacher leadership in primary schools

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of the level of trust of primary school teachers towards their organization in relation to their perceptions of the school having a culture of teacher leadership. Participants of the study consisted of 378 teachers working in Burdur public primary schools. The data collection tool used two scales, the Teacher Leadership Culture Scale (TLCS) and Comprehensive Trust Scale (CTS). The TLCS consists of three dimensions including teacher collaboration, managerial support, and supportive work environment. The CTS has three sub-dimensions including trust in principals, trust in colleagues, and trust in clients. The data obtained from the participants was analyzed using the LISREL 8.5 program via structural equation modeling techniques such as the Maximum Likelihood Approach. The research results find the trust levels of teachers towards their organization in primary schools in Burdur to be positive and significant for the culture of teacher leadership in school. In addition, the trust level of teachers towards the organization are shown to explain 76% of the variability in the level of teacher leadership culture in their school. It was found that trust in principals has the highest correlation with managerial trust. Trust in colleagues also is found to have the highest correlations with teacher collaboration and supportive work environment.