The Impact of Work Engagement and Empowering Leadership on the Performance of Elementary School Teachers in SDN 10 Talang Kelapa
Keywords:
Empowering Leadership, Work Engagement, Teacher Performance, Elementary Education, Educational Management, Instructional Leadership, Learning Quality.Abstract
This study aims to comprehensively examine the impact of Work Engagement and Empowering Leadership on the performance of elementary school teachers at SDN 10 Talang Kelapa within the framework of educational quality improvement. A qualitative descriptive-explorative design was employed to gain contextual insight into how principal leadership practices shape teacher engagement and influence instructional performance. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis of instructional planning. The findings indicate that empowering leadership practices manifested through professional autonomy, participative decision-making, proportional delegation of responsibilities, and continuous professional support significantly enhance teachers’ vigor, dedication, and absorption. Increased work engagement is reflected in more systematic lesson planning, innovative teaching strategies, effective classroom management, and stronger commitment in addressing students’ academic and character development challenges. Furthermore, teachers demonstrate a greater sense of ownership toward school programs and improved collaborative culture among colleagues. The study concludes that the integration of empowering leadership and strong work engagement constitutes a strategic foundation for sustaining improved teacher performance and fostering a productive, adaptive, and quality-oriented school environment.
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