Revisiting paternalistic leadership: Indirect pathways to teacher agency through school culture

This study examined the relationships among paternalistic leadership, school culture, and teacher agency in Türkiye. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the findings indicated that paternalistic leadership is positively associated with school culture and teacher agency, underscoring that teacher agency is not merely an individual trait but is embedded within contextual and cultural dynamics. Although the direct effect between paternalistic leadership and teacher agency is statistically significant, the indirect effect through school culture is notably stronger. Consequently, the research offers theoretical and practical implications for understanding how leadership and organizational culture influence teacher agency in centralized, hierarchical education systems.