A Study on Leadership Effective in Secondary School Education Teams from the Perspective of Servant Leadership Theory : A Focus on Teacher Satisfaction and Team Cohesion

Abstract

Amid ongoing educational reforms and shifts in educational management, school leadership styles are undergoing notable transformation. Servant leadership—centered on people-first values, support for subordinates, and team empowerment—has gained increasing attention in school contexts. Within this framework, teacher satisfaction and team cohesion have emerged as key determinants of effective school teams.The objectives of this study were to examine the influence of servant leadership on teacher satisfaction, to investigate how satisfaction affects team cohesion, and to explore the mediating role of satisfaction in the relationship between servant leadership and team cohesion.This study adopted a quantitative research design and employed structured questionnaires to collect data from teachers at Jianping High School in Shanghai. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed, and 185 valid responses were received. The sample represented teaching staff across different departments and grade levels. Data were analyzed using statistical modeling to test the hypothesized influence path: “Servant Leadership → Teacher Satisfaction → Team Cohesion.”
The findings reveal that: (1) servant leadership behavior demonstrated by principals and middle-level leaders significantly enhanced teacher satisfaction; (2) teacher satisfaction positively contributed to the development of team cohesion; and (3) servant leadership behavior indirectly strengthened team cohesion through its effect on satisfaction, with the mediating role statistically confirmed.The study concludes that servant leadership plays a critical role in fostering teacher satisfaction and team cohesion in schools. To institutionalize this model, schools should integrate service, empowerment, and collaboration into management practices, use diagnostic tools to guide adjustments, and establish supportive communication platforms. Evaluation systems should recognize service-oriented behaviors, and targeted training can help sustain the model. These measures embed servant leadership as a sustainable framework that enhances teacher satisfaction, team cohesion, and organizational effectiveness.

Keywords: secondary school education, servant leadership behavior, teacher satisfaction, team cohesion

6717195010 Li Daiyipei, 2568 (2025). Advisor: ดร.จิดาภา ชลธารรัตนพงศ์ – Dr. Jidapa Chollathanrattanapong, สารนิพนธ์ (Independent Study), A Study on Leadership Effective in Secondary School Education Teams from the Perspective of Servant Leadership Theory : A Focus on Teacher Satisfaction and Team Cohesion, นำเสนอในที่ประชุมวิชาการ (Conference), The 18th National and International Academic Conference 2025, ปริญญาโท (Master’s Degree), บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย (Graduate School), Master of Business Administration, Education Management, Siam University, Bangkok, Thailand – มหาวิทยาลัยสยาม กรุงเทพมหานคร ประเทศไทย