The effects of distributed leadership on teacher professional learning: mediating roles of teacher trust in principal and teacher motivation

The current study investigates a mediated-effects model of distributed leadership and teacher professional learning. The model proposes that teacher trust in school principal and teacher work motivation act as mediators of distributed leadership effects on teacher professional learning. The study is based on survey data collected from 327 teachers employed in public primary schools in Turkey. The results show that distributed leadership has positive indirect effects on teacher professional learning. Both teacher trust in school principal and teacher work motivation mediate the effects of distributed leadership on teacher professional learning. This study contributes to a growing body of research evidencing a positive link between distributed leadership and teacher professional learning.