| The purpose of this mixed-design study was to examine a servant leader's impact on a public education (K-12) organization by identifying and articulating specific leadership behaviors, and the influence of those behaviors upon the organization in its entirety and the individuals within the school organization.; In this study, the researcher administered the Organizational Leadership Assessment (OLA) (Laub, 1998) to staff members in one Midwest, rural public school district. Responses were analyzed based on the sub-scales of the inventory: Values & Develops People, Displays Authenticity, Builds Community, and Provides & Shares Leadership. Data analysis revealed through rank order that the behavior of Provides & Shares Leadership was the highest ranking practice of the servant leader. The practices of Builds Community and Displays Authenticity were ranked second and third, respectively. The practice of Values & Develops People was ranked as the lowest servant leader behavior.; Interviews, observations, and document(s) collection provided the qualitative data which revealed how servant leadership is defined in a public education setting, and what servant leadership looks like. The themes of defining the organization through process, connecting to purpose and people, power with versus power over, and walking the talk emerged through amalgamation of data.; This study confirmed that a servant leader's behavior positively impacts the health of the school organization, and the extent the servant leadership behaviors influence the organization and individuals within. |
