Exploring School Leaders’ Turnover Intention: An Inquiry into the Influence of Servant Leadership

Abstract

This study employed qualitative research, specifically utilizing a phenomenological design. It explored the lived experiences of school leaders regarding their turnover intentions in leadership. The study also aimed to uncover how school leaders navigate challenges and how servant leadership sustains them. The participants included four school principals and four master teachers from the Division of Davao del Sur. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria for the in-depth interviews (IDI), conducted both face-to-face and through online platforms. Thematic analysis was applied to extract essential themes from the participants’ responses. The results revealed that school leaders experienced overwhelming workloads, administrative burdens, systemic and structural challenges, and resource shortages, factors contributing to their turnover intentions. Despite these challenges, school leaders managed to shape their intention to stay through collaboration and community engagement, balancing professional demands with personal well-being, and upholding leadership values. They described their servant leadership experience in terms of identity and purpose, prioritizing service before self, and highlighting their leadership’s impact on teachers, students, and the community