The Influence of Transformational School Leadership, School Culture, and Teacher Performance on Educational Quality in Public Junior High Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v8i3.10590Keywords:
Educational Quality, School Culture, Teacher Performance, Transformational LeadershipAbstract
This study aims to analyze the influence of principals’ transformational leadership, school culture, and teacher performance on educational quality in SMPN of Singorojo District, Kendal Regency. This study employed a quantitative approach with an ex-post facto survey design. The population consisted of 96 teachers from four SMPN in Singorojo District during the 2025/2026 academic year. Since the population was relatively small, total sampling was employed, involving all 96 teachers as respondents. The study used primary data obtained through structured questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale, while secondary data were obtained from relevant school and educational documents, including Indonesian Education Report Card data. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with the assistance of IBM SPSS. The findings revealed that transformational leadership, school culture, and teacher performance simultaneously had a positive and significant influence on educational quality, with an R value of 0.884 and an R² of 0.781. Thus, the three independent variables jointly explained 78.1% of the variance in educational quality, while the remaining 21.9% was explained by other factors not included in the model. The study concludes that improving educational quality requires an integrated strategy involving transformational leadership, a positive school culture, and strengthened teacher performance. The simultaneous development of these three factors can support sustainable educational improvement in SMPN in Singorojo District, Kendal Regency.
References
Alzoraiki, M., Ahmad, A. R., Ateeq, A., & Milhem, M. (2024). The Role of Transformational Leadership in Enhancing School Culture and Teaching Performance in Yemeni Public Schools. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1413607
Anwar, K., Rahman, A., Nurwahidin, M., Sutrisno, S., & Saputra, N. (2023). The Influence of School Culture and Work Motivation on School Quality in Vocational Schools. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 4(3), 430–445. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v4i3.661
Asriyah, M. (2024). Transformational Leadership of School Principals in Shaping School Culture and Improving Student Achievement in Elementary Schools. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Dan Multikulturalisme, 6(3), 710–724. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v6i3.8485
Astuti, I. P., Kusumaningsih, W., & Nurkolis, N. (2025). Strengthening Educational Accountability in Elementary School: The Role of Principals’ Transformational Leadership and Data-Based Planning. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i3.7172
Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Executive Book Summary: Transformational Leadership, Second Edition
Belsito, C. (2016). The Importance of “Teacher Quality” and’ Quality Teaching’ on Academic Performance. http://ro.uow.edu.au/jseemhttp://ro.uow.edu.au/jseem/vol6/iss1/5
Bumay, A. F., Hariri, H., & Rini, R. (2023). Teacher Performance: Factors Influencing Teacher Performance. International Journal of Educational Management and Innovation, 4(3), 181–193. https://doi.org/10.12928/ijemi.v4i3.8213
Chisum, G. M. (2018). Running head: Transformational Leadership: The Impact on School Culture and Student Achievement A Capstone Research Project.
Ermita, L. G., & Baysa, M. L. (2025). Transformational Leadership Practices of School Heads: Teachers’ Motivation and School Performance. 3, 178–202. https://edukhasi.org/index.php/jip
Fachmi, M., Mustafa, M., & Ngandoh, A. M. (2021). The Role of Motivation and Professional Competence in Improving Teacher Performance. Journal of Digital Learning and Education, 1(01), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.52562/jdle.v1i01.14
Groves, K. S. (2014). Examining Leader–Follower Congruence of Social Responsibility Values in Transformational Leadership. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 21(3), 227–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051813498420
Haq, M. S., Nur, B., & Yun, A.’. (2020). The Influence of Teacher Performance and School Culture on School Quality.
Helita, H., Danim, S., & Insanistiyo, B. (2026). Transformational Leadership Practices of School Principals to Improve Teacher Learning Performance: a Qualitative Case Study from an Indonesian Junior High School. Jurnal Konseling dan Pendidikan, 14(1), 759–766. https://doi.org/10.29210/1207500
Ihsan, M. Z. N., Sumardjoko, B., Mawardi, F., & Luthfi, S. (2026). The Relationship Between School Culture and School Quality: The Mediating Role of Teacher Integrity. 4, 277–295. https://doi.org/10.51214/ijemal.v4i1.1991
Irianti, L., & Achmad Kurniady, D. (2026). Optimizing Elementary School Teacher Performance: Integration of Instructional Leadership and Collegial Supervision in an Integrated Supervision Model. Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen Pendidikan (JDMP), 10(2), 2540–7880. https://doi.org/10.26740/jdmp.v10n2.p169-178
Jayadi, U., Farida Ferine, K., & Alfahmi, M. (2025). The Influence of the Principal's Leadership Role and Teacher Professionalism on Improving Teacher Performance in Mataram City, with Educational Quality Management as a Mediating Variable. https://doi.org/10.47353/bj.v4i10.421
Khalifah, H., Santosa, H., Listyasari, W. D., & Huda, S. A. (2026). Transformational Leadership of School Principals in Improving School Quality in Remote Areas. Journal of Educational Sciences, 10(3), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.31258/jes.10.3.p.129-141
Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (1990). Transformational Leadership: How Principals Can Help Reform School Cultures. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 1(4), 249–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/0924345900010402
MacNeil, A. J., Prater, D. L., & Busch, S. (2009). The Effects of School Culture and Climate on Student Achievement. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 12(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603120701576241
Mandak, R., & Astuti, Y. (2026). Transformational School Leadership in Challenging Contexts. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education, 5(1), 1021–1029. https://doi.org/10.56916/jirpe.v5i1.2872
Mincu, M. (2022). Why is School Leadership key to Transforming Education? Structural and Cultural Assumptions for Quality Education in Diverse Contexts. Prospects, 52(3–4), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-022-09625-6
Olivier, D. F. (2001). Teacher Personal and School Culture Characteristics in Effective Teacher Personal and School Culture Characteristics in Effective Schools: Toward a Model of a Professional Learning Community. Schools: Toward a Model of a Professional Learning Community.
Peterson, K. D., & Deal, T. E. (2002). The Shaping School Culture Fieldbook. www.josseybass.com
Putri, A. S., S R., & Akbar, A. (2025). Transformational Leadership Practices of School Principals in Developing a Quality Culture in Remote Junior High Schools. International Journal of Asian Education, 6(2), 226–234. https://doi.org/10.46966/ijae.v6i2.493
Rahman, M. A., Santosa, A. B., & Sihotang, H. (2020). The Influence of Principal’s Leadership, Teacher Performance, and Internal Quality Assurance System in Improving the Quality of Education in Vocational High School. (7), 162–175.
Sahdat, S., Rizhan, M., Sulistiawan, E., Aslamiah, A., & Cinantya, C. (2025). Quality culture, quality work culture, and educational quality: A systematic literature review. Curricula: Journal of Curriculum Development, 4(2), 1841–1854. https://doi.org/10.17509/curricula.v4i2.92487
Setiyanti, W., Kusumaningsih, W., & Nurkolis, N. (2025). The Influence of Principal’s Transformational Leadership Style, School Culture, and Teacher Professionalism on Learning Quality in Junior High School. Prima Magistra: Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan, 6(2), 158–166. https://doi.org/10.37478/jpm.v6i2.5133
Shofwani, S. A., Raharjo, T. J., Fakhruddin, F., Arief, S., & Taufikin, T. (2026). Transformative Care-Based Supervision and Sustainable Teacher Performance. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme, 8(1), 570–588. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v8i1.8733
Singerin, S. (2021). The Impact of Academic Supervision on Teacher Pedagogical Competence and Teacher Performance: The Role of Moderating by Teacher Efficacy. International Journal of Elementary Education, 5(3), 496–504. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/IJEE
Sirait, D. (2021). The Influence of Principal Transformational Leadership, Work Culture, and Work Environment on Teacher Performance in State Senior High Schools throughout Banjarbaru City. J Adv Educ Philos, 5(12), 2523–2223. https://doi.org/10.36348/jaep.2021.v05i12.004
Sugiar, L., & Sanusi, S. (2024). Academic Supervision as a Strategy for Improving Teaching and Learning Quality. International Journal of Educational Administration, Management, and Leadership, 5(2), 31–48.
Surwiti, S., Widodo, W., Sumaryoto, S., & Prasetyono, H. (2025). A Meta-Analysis of Organizational Culture and Transformational Leadership Effects on Teacher Performance. Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.51214/002025071638000
Taajamo, M., Jäppinen, A. K., & Nissinen, K. (2023). Understanding the Essential Elements of School Culture in Global Contexts: Exploring the TALIS 2018 Data on School Principals. International Journal of Leadership in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2023.2234859
Tarigan, B. A., & Nurmiati, A. S. (2024). The Effects of Leadership Style, Resource Allocation, and School Culture on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention Rates in Indonesian High Schools (Vol. 5, Number 1). https://ijble.com/index.php/journal/index
Usman, H., Mudhofir, M., & Gusmian, I. (2023). The Important Role of Academic Supervision in Improving the Quality of Education. Kontigensi : Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.56457/jimk.v11i2.459
Utami, B. Y., & Al Kadri, H. (2024). The Influence of Principal Transformational Leadership on Teacher Performance and Learning Quality in Schools. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31258/jes.10.3.p.129-141
Pratomo, W. H. (2020). The Effect of Organizational Culture and School Climate on the Quality of Education Services and Their Implications on the Quality of the Graduates. Budapest International Research and Critics in Linguistics and Education (BirLE) Journal, 3(1), 54–60. https://doi.org/10.33258/birle.v3i1.752
Weto, H. W., Wahyono, R., & Supanto, F. (2020). The Influence of School Culture, Teacher Performance, and Principal Leadership on Quality of Education in High Schools in Ende Regency. International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering, 06(08), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.31695/ijasre.2020.33870
Yuliyanti, A., Egar, N., & Nugroho, A. A. (2026). Transformational Leadership to Build Productive Teacher Work Culture. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme, 8(1), 1169–1185. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v8i1.9385
Zaini, M., Barnoto, & Ashari. (2023). Improving Teacher Performance and Education Quality through Madrasah Principal Leadership. Kharisma, 2(2), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.59373/kharisma.v2i2.23
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mudzalifah Mudzalifah, Widya Kusumaningsih, Nurkolis Nurkolis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
