2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 17
Available Online: 10 December 2025
Author/s:
Pido, Francisco M.*
Nueva Vizcaya State University, Philippines (francisco.pido001@deped.gov.ph)
Bullecer, Wilhelmina C.
Nueva Vizcaya State University, Philippines (wennybullecer21@gmail.com)
Abstract:
This quantitative descriptive-correlational study examined the relationship between the ethical leadership behavior of school heads and the organizational trust of public elementary school teachers in Kayapa East District during the academic year 2025–2026. The study involved 92 teacher respondents, selected using Slovin’s Formula to ensure a representative sample, with both stratified and simple random sampling techniques applied for fairness across the district’s schools. Data were collected using a validated and reliable researcher-made questionnaire that ensured accuracy and consistency in capturing teachers’ perceptions. Ethical leadership was measured along five dimensions: purpose (clarity of mission and direction), pride (dignity in leadership and service), patience (restraint and thoughtful judgment), persistence (consistency in values and actions), and perspectives (open-minded and fair decision-making). Organizational trust, meanwhile, was assessed based on integrity (adherence to ethical standards), competence (effectiveness in leadership roles), dependability (consistency in behavior and support), transparency (openness in communication), and fairness (equity in treatment and decisions). Results showed that teachers perceived the ethical leadership behavior of their school heads as excellent (grand mean = 3.63), with perspective receiving the highest rating. Organizational trust was also rated excellent overall (grand mean = 3.52), although fairness and dependability were found to be areas needing improvement. A very strong positive and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.809, p = 0.001) was established between ethical leadership and organizational trust, indicating that higher ethical behavior among school heads strongly enhances teachers’ trust levels. The study proposed an educational management intervention focused on enhancing clarity of mission, transparency, fairness, and ethical decision-making. It concludes that ethical leadership is a strong predictor of organizational trust and recommends continuous professional development, transparent governance, and proactive communication strategies to strengthen school leadership and trust-building within educational institutions.
Keywords: ethical leadership behavior, management intervention, organizational trust
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25262
Cite this article:
Pido, F. M., & Bullecer, W. C. (2025). Ethical leadership behavior of school heads in Kapaya East District and its relationship to teachers’ organizational trust. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(17), 209-227. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25262
*Corresponding Author