<![CDATA[This study aimed to analyze the influence of principals’ transformational leadership and work motivation on teacher performance at public junior high schools in Barumun District, Padang Lawas Regency. The research was conducted because teacher performance plays an important role in improving the quality of education, and it is influenced by leadership and motivational factors within schools. This study employed a quantitative approach using an ex-post facto method. The population consisted of 52 teachers from SMP Negeri 1 Barumun, SMP Negeri 2 Barumun Satu Atap, and SMP Negeri 3 Barumun, with total sampling technique applied. Data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire that had passed validity and reliability testing. The data were analyzed through prerequisite tests, multiple linear regression, t-test, F-test, and coefficient of determination analysis. The findings revealed that principals’ transformational leadership had a positive and significant effect on teacher performance with a t-value of 4.999 and significance value below 0.001. Work motivation also showed a positive and significant effect with a t-value of 8.221 and significance below 0.001. Simultaneously, both variables significantly influenced teacher performance with an F-value of 150.374 and significance below 0.001. The adjusted R square value of 0.860 indicated that 86.0% of teacher performance was explained by transformational leadership and work motivation. Work motivation was found to be the most dominant factor affecting teacher performance.]]>
