How unethical leadership shapes teachers’ behaviors and experiences at work

ABSTRACT

This article examines the dark side of educational leadership by exploring how unethical administrative leadership affects teachers’ behaviors and experiences at work, from the teacher perspective. The qualitative interview study uses organizational justice as a framework to analyze the experiences of 38 teachers in the United States. From the data, several themes emerged regarding how unethical leadership influenced teachers’ work. Teachers reported a range of effects such as withdrawal and counterproductive behaviors. They also reported several other experiences that may be precursors to those behaviors such as increased feelings of stress, uncertainty and self-doubt.

Disclosure statement

I have no known conflicts of interest to disclose

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cecile Sam

Cecile H. Sam is an assistant professor in the department of Educational Services and Leadership at Rowan University. She is a qualitative researcher whose current focus in on the nexus between leadership, faculty work, and ethics that spans K-12 and higher education contexts.