Building Mid-Level Leadership: Sustaining Job Satisfaction at Laureate Academy

Abstract

"This study aims to provide a quality improvement capstone project based on research findings that leads to clear recommendations for improving staff retention to increase the sustainability of middle-level leadership at a small, K-8th grade charter school. Utilizing Herzberg's Two Factory Theory as the theoretical framework led to a mixed-method data collection approach that uses thematic inductive coding of qualitative data from interviews and quantitative data analysis from the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), job satisfaction survey. Findings revealed the staff as generally satisfied but that employees have low satisfaction levels regarding compensation, opportunities for creativity, and managerial relationships. Results also showed high levels of job satisfaction towards job security and co-worker relationships. Additionally, staff expressed strong trust in their school leader's ability to make decisions. Recommendations relate to reevaluating their compensation strategy, creating gradual autonomy release to increase creativity, and regularly evaluating the professional learning of mid-level managers. "