Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Administration

First Advisor

Colwell, William B.

Abstract

Adam J. Cross, for the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Administration, presented March 24, 2025, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

TITLE: IMPACT OF PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP ON TEACHER RETENTION IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS K-12 SCHOOLS

MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. William Bradley Colwell

The purpose of the study was to determine what impact principal leadership has on teacher retention in southern Illinois K-12 public schools. The significance of the study is to contribute to existing research on principal leadership and its impact on teacher retention (both positive and negative) by determining what characteristics of leadership implemented by southern Illinois K-12 public school principals By studying the principal leadership impact on teacher retention in southern Illinois K-12 public schools and connecting them to the demographics of the principal and school, leadership in rural public schools may be better understood as well as increasing teacher retention. This study of leadership and teacher retention has noticeable administrative as well as student-based impacts. Specifically, school administrators can use these concepts to increase teacher retention in their schools, which may impact school culture by increasing student achievement, lowering disciplinary infractions, and creating a vision for the school beyond solely one person’s ideas (Gultekin and Dougherty, 2021). It may also be utilized by universities and administrator preparation programs to better prepare future administrators in leadership effectiveness. The Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School Administrations, and the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools may also develop a mentoring guide based on the research to create more cohesive mentor-mentee programs.

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