Advances in Research

This study examined the relationships among school culture, employee empowerment, organizational commitment, and ethical leadership in 281 school heads of integrated schools in the Davao Region, Philippines, using structural equation modeling. The proposed causal links among the latent variables were tested using a correlational-predictive approach with structural equation modeling. Data were collected using four sets of survey instruments. Data analysis included mean, standard deviation, Pearson's r, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling analysis tools. Results indicated that levels of school culture, employee empowerment, organizational commitment, and ethical leadership were very high. Positive correlations were found between school culture and ethical leadership, employee empowerment and ethical leadership, and organizational commitment and ethical leadership. Furthermore, the findings revealed that employee empowerment and organizational commitment do not directly influence ethical leadership. Rather, both affect school culture, which directly influences ethical leadership. Moreover, hypothesized model 3 emerged as the best-fitting model in the study. The findings suggest that ethical leadership does not develop on its own. Its contributing factor is the changing of school assignments of school heads, because a positive school culture creates a supportive environment that allows ethical leadership practices to emerge, grow, and be recognized by school staff. Overall, the study underscores the pivotal role of organizational and cultural factors in shaping ethical leadership and contributes empirical evidence to the leadership and educational management literature within the Philippine context.