Abstract
Educational leadership is a critical determinant of organizational effectiveness, employee motivation, and the successful implementation of educational reforms. Guided by contemporary leadership theories and the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), this study assessed the leadership styles of school administrators and their influence on employee motivation among the teaching and non-teaching personnel of La Union National High School. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design involving 157 teaching and non-teaching personnel selected through total enumeration during School Year 2026–2027. A researcher-made questionnaire, developed from established leadership theories, related literature, previous empirical studies, and Department of Education policies, served as the primary data-gathering instrument. The instrument underwent expert validation and pilot testing and obtained an overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.94. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, weighted mean, ranking, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the overall leadership styles of school administrators obtained a grand mean of 4.12, interpreted as Highly Manifested, with Transformational Leadership receiving the highest rating (M = 4.68). Employee motivation registered an overall grand mean of 4.47, interpreted as Very Highly Motivated, with Commitment to Work (M = 4.63) obtaining the highest rating. Correlation analysis revealed a very strong positive relationship between leadership styles and employee motivation (r = 0.823, p = 0.000), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The most frequently encountered concerns were heavy workload, excessive paperwork, work-life balance issues, limited promotion opportunities, stress and burnout, insufficient resources, inadequate internet connectivity, and limited incentives and recognition. Based on the findings, the Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) Program is proposed to enhance leadership competencies and promote continuous organizational improvement at La Union National High School.