LEADERSHIP AS AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE PHENOMENA - ITS IMPACT ON SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

This article reports the results of a study guided by a conceptualizat ion of leadership as an organizational quality. The study examines the relationship between the leadership exerted by principals, teachers, secretaries, and parents; four functions of effective organizations; a nd several measures of school effectiveness. The results of path analy ses revealed the following: The total amount of leadership in schools was associated with two organizational functions, which in turn were a ssociated with four measures of school performance. The leadership of principals and the leadership of groups of teachers were positively re lated to organizational latency, or commitment, which was positively a ssociated with the perceived effectiveness of schools and negatively a ssociated with teacher turnover Finally, the leadership of parents was positively associated with student achievement, whereas the influence of secretaries was negatively associated with student achievement.