Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the study was to identify the leadership styles of adult school principals as perceived by adult education teachers. Furthermore, the study explored adult education teachers' perceptions of their organizational culture. Additionally, the study determined whether or not a correlation exists between the transformational leadership of the principal and the organizational culture, as perceived by the teachers. Methodology. The researcher employed a quantitative, descriptive study which included adult education teachers at randomly selected adult schools throughout the county of Los Angeles. The survey instruments used for data collection consisted of Avolio and Bass's (2000) Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, a 45-item survey assessing leadership characteristics and outcomes. Also utilized was Bass and Avolio's (1992) Organizational Description Questionnaire, a 28-item survey assessing the teachers' perceptions of organizational culture. Findings. This study found that the aggregate of the teachers' perceptions rendered the presence of some characteristics of transformational leadership in the adult school principals. Additionally, this study found there to be the perception of a transformational organizational culture in the schools that participated in the study. Finally, when analyzing data from both the transformational leadership of the leader and the organizational culture, a significant positive correlation was identified. Conclusions. Although the principals in the study did demonstrate some transformational leadership characteristics, when compared to the norm mean it put forth the conclusion that principals should identify specific characteristics of transformational leadership where they focus on further development. It was concluded that additional time, training, and group activities should be implemented throughout the organization that support transformational leadership and transformational organizational culture. Implications for Action. Recommendations were made to assist practitioners in the development of transformational leadership behaviors and to encourage a transformational organizational culture. Specific leadership and organizational strategies were suggested. Furthermore, the researcher proposed that school administrations should develop, train, and enable leaders at all levels of the organization to assist in fostering a positive transformational organizational culture.