Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice

Krista Bixler; Marjorie Ceballos; Xinyi Mao; Su Gao

doi:10.30828/real.1962726

Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of school leaders’ domains of practice and their decision to transfer to another school within one school district or leave the school district. A second purpose was to investigate whether this relationship varied according to school academic achievement. To complete this study, researchers used data collected from a school district’s teacher exit survey administered to teachers who either transferred to another school within the school district or left the school district. Researchers examined teachers’ perceptions of importance and satisfaction with school leaders’ domains of practice from data collected between the 2018 and 2024 school years. Multilevel logistical regression demonstrated that teachers were more likely to transfer within the school district, rather than leave the school district, based on their perceptions of importance of the leadership domain of improving the instructional program. Perceptions of satisfaction with domains of leadership practice did not contribute significantly to teachers’ decision to transfer or leave a school. Moreover, school academic performance did not significantly contribute to teachers’ decision to transfer or leave. Findings from this research study may support school district leaders in reducing teacher transfers by increasing school leaders’ ability to provide instructional support to teachers, monitor student learning and advance school improvement.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

We have IRB approval for this study.

Thanks

Thank you for your consideration of this paper.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Leadership in Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Krista Bixler
0000-0003-3582-8935
United States

Marjorie Ceballos ^*
0000-0003-2145-686X
United States

Xinyi Mao This is me
0000-0003-1476-3079
United States

Su Gao This is me
0000-0002-3570-2008
United States

Publication Date

September 27, 2026

Submission Date

June 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1962726

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA47FF58EY

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Bixler, K., Ceballos, M., Mao, X., & Gao, S. (2026). Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 11(3), 617-649. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1962726

AMA

1.Bixler K, Ceballos M, Mao X, Gao S. Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice. REAL. 2026;11(3):617-649. doi:10.30828/real.1962726

Chicago

Bixler, Krista, Marjorie Ceballos, Xinyi Mao, and Su Gao. 2026. “Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer Within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 (3): 617-49. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1962726.

EndNote

Bixler K, Ceballos M, Mao X, Gao S (September 1, 2026) Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11 3 617–649.

IEEE

[1]K. Bixler, M. Ceballos, X. Mao, and S. Gao, “Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice”, REAL, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 617–649, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30828/real.1962726.

ISNAD

Bixler, Krista - Ceballos, Marjorie - Mao, Xinyi - Gao, Su. “Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer Within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership 11/3 (September 1, 2026): 617-649. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1962726.

JAMA

1.Bixler K, Ceballos M, Mao X, Gao S. Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice. REAL. 2026;11:617–649.

MLA

Bixler, Krista, et al. “Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer Within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice”. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, vol. 11, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 617-49, doi:10.30828/real.1962726.

Vancouver

1.Krista Bixler, Marjorie Ceballos, Xinyi Mao, Su Gao. Examining the Relationship Between Teachers’ Decision to Leave or Transfer within a School District and Their Perceptions of Domains of School Leadership Practice. REAL. 2026 Sep. 1;11(3):617-49. doi:10.30828/real.1962726