Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationships between teacher perception of principal positivity, teacher perception of their own job satisfaction, and overall staff morale in TK-12 teachers in public school districts in suburban areas of Southern California. Methodology. The present study was related to the relationship of principal positivity, teacher job satisfaction, and staff morale. Participants (N = 153) were randomly sampled from 7 public school districts in suburban areas of Southern California. A Qualtrics survey consisting of 55 Likert scale-based questions combined demographic data as well as 8 questions from the Positivity Scale, 17 from the Teacher Job Satisfaction scale (TJSS), and 30 from the Organizational Climate Index (OCI). Findings. Correlational analysis found significant positive relationships between principal positivity and teacher job satisfaction, principal positivity and staff morale, and teacher job satisfaction and staff morale. Additionally, simple linear regression found significant predictive relationships between principal positivity and teacher job satisfaction, principal positivity and staff morale, and teacher job satisfaction and staff morale as well as between principal positivity and teacher job satisfaction with morale. Conclusions. This study adds to the empirical research regarding the relationships between principal positivity, teacher job satisfaction, and staff morale of which there is a gap in the literature. The findings have implications for the training, professional development, and evaluation of site administrators as well as for consideration of the relationships and importance of teacher job satisfaction and staff morale on an overall positive work environment. Recommendations. Further study should investigate the various complexities of the relationships of demographics such as ethnicity, gender, years of service, and grade span taught on the relationship between the variables. Expansion of geographic region of participants and sample size is also recommended for future research as well as possible factors such as those impacting principal positivity and the relationship of principal positivity and student achievement and the relationship of teacher positivity to satisfaction and morale.