The effect of principals' transformational leadership style on organizational innovation in secondary schools: the mediating role of organizational learning culture and teachers' job commitment

In the era of rapid educational changes, organizational innovation in schools is recognized as a key factor in improving the quality of education. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of managers' transformational leadership style on organizational innovation in secondary schools and the mediating role of organizational learning culture and teachers' job commitment. In a cross-sectional study, 320 teachers and 80 principals from 80 secondary schools in Tabriz province were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using standard questionnaires of Bass and Avolio transformational leadership, organizational innovation, organizational learning culture and job commitment. Data analysis using structural equation modeling showed that the transformational leadership style of managers has a positive and significant effect on organizational innovation in schools (β = 0.42, p < .001). Also, organizational learning culture (indirect effect: β = 0.18, 95% CI [0.12, 0.25]) and teachers' job commitment (indirect effect: β = 0.15, 95% CI [0.09, 0.22]) play a significant mediating role in this relationship. they do Multigroup analysis showed that these relationships are not significantly different in public and private schools. The findings emphasize the importance of developing transformational leadership skills in school principals, strengthening organizational learning culture, and increasing teachers' job commitment to promote innovation in schools. Practical suggestions are provided for educational policy makers, school administrators, and professional development programs.