Servant Leadership Perspectives on Canadian Early Childhood Educator Turnover

The high turnover rate among early childhood education (ECE) teachers disrupts continuity and quality of care for pre-school children, necessitating effective leadership strategies to address this issue. Thus, this study examines the impact of servant leadership (SL) on the turnover rates of Canadian ECE teachers, specifically exploring factors contributing to reducing high turnover rates and ensuring stable, high-quality ECE. By utilizing data from a comprehensive literature review and qualitative questionnaires with feedback from educators, the research reveals agreement on the positive effects of SL characteristics in reducing ECE teacher turnover. Moreover, key SL traits such as empathy, active listening, professional development, ethical behavior, and fostering a supportive community are identified as crucial factors in enhancing job satisfaction and commitment among ECE teachers. Findings suggest implementing SL practices can significantly improve ECE teacher retention, thereby ensuring high-quality services in ECE settings. Furthermore, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on leadership styles in ECE settings and underscores the importance of adopting SL to create a more stable, supportive work environment for ECE teachers. Finally, this research provides avenues for future study, such as investigating the long-term effects of SL implementation on ECE teacher retention and student outcomes in ECE contexts.