Abstract
The focus of servant leadership is on the growth of the entire person. One of the characteristics of servant leadership is the commitment to the growth of individuals, as well as the building of a community. These two qualities are directly related to teachers and how they feel about their identity within an educational setting. The identity and commitment levels of teachers are reflected in the longevity of teachers who teach in private Christian schools. Teacher turnover rates in private Christian schools have been increasing year to year, due to many factors. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the servant leadership qualities of administrators and to analyze how they relate to the organizational commitment levels of teachers, in a private Christian school. In doing so, this study addressed the relationship between servant leadership, teachers’ organizational commitment and turnover rates among teachers. The aim of the study was to compose a comprehensive list of administrators’ servant leadership characteristics which affect the organizational commitment levels among teachers. Data about the servant leadership qualities of administrators from the teachers’ perspective, and how those qualities related to organizational commitment levels of teachers were collected in a private Christian school in California through online surveys and personal interviews. The quantitative data for the study found a positive, moderately weak linear correlation between the servant leadership qualities of administrators and the affective commitment levels of teachers. The study also found a positive, weak linear correlation between the servant leadership qualities of administrators and the continuance and normative commitment levels of teachers. Furthermore, the data showed that the highest ranked servant leadership qualities which an administrator can possess are wisdom and organizational stewardship. The qualitative data provided evidence which suggested that teachers who continue to stay teaching in this private Christian school in California are because of a higher calling, which is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The mixed method inferences indicated that all areas of servant leadership and organizational commitment were supported except for continuance and normative commitment levels. The proposed solution to increase organizational commitment levels among teachers and decrease teacher turnover is the implementation of professional development which focuses on servant leadership, but also the implementation of the Gallup StrengthsFinder. These two solutions could strengthen the leader-follower relationship and decrease teacher turnover rates among teachers. Research which includes different religious school sites could offer a different perspective on the servant leadership qualities of administrators and how they affect the organizational commitment levels of teachers.| Keywords: servant leadership, servant leadership qualities, organizational commitment, private Christian schools, teachers, administration, teacher turnover, leadership, leader-follower relationship