<![CDATA[Abstrak Latar belakang kajian ini berangkat dari fenomena menurunnya kualitas kinerja guru yang terlihat pada rendahnya tingkat profesionalisme, minimnya inovasi pembelajaran, serta melemahnya komitmen kerja di berbagai sekolah dasar. Dalam situasi tersebut, kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dan motivasi kerja guru menjadi dua faktor kunci yang diyakini sangat menentukan efektivitas pelaksanaan tugas pendidik. Model servant leadership, yang menekankan orientasi pelayanan dan pemberdayaan, dipandang mampu menciptakan iklim kerja yang suportif, membangun kepercayaan, serta mempererat relasi yang lebih humanis antara pemimpin dan guru. Sementara itu, motivasi kerja bertindak sebagai penggerak utama yang memengaruhi kesiapan guru dalam menjalankan tugas profesional, memenuhi tanggung jawab, serta menghasilkan proses pembelajaran yang optimal. Berdasarkan telaah berbagai penelitian empiris, kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa servant leadership berpengaruh langsung maupun tidak langsung terhadap kinerja guru melalui penguatan motivasi, komitmen, dan kepuasan kerja. Motivasi kerja juga terbukti menjadi variabel krusial yang tidak hanya meningkatkan kinerja secara langsung, tetapi juga memediasi hubungan antara gaya kepemimpinan dan perilaku profesional guru. Temuan ini menegaskan urgensi penerapan nilai-nilai servant leadership oleh kepala sekolah serta pentingnya strategi peningkatan motivasi secara berkelanjutan sebagai langkah strategis dalam memperkuat kualitas kinerja guru di sekolah dasar. Kata Kunci: Servant Leadership, Motivasi Kerja, Kinerja Guru Sekolah Dasar Abstract The background to this study stems from the phenomenon of declining teacher performance, evident in low levels of professionalism, minimal learning innovation, and weakened work commitment in various elementary schools. In this situation, principal leadership and teacher work motivation are two key factors believed to significantly determine the effectiveness of educators' performance. The servant leadership model, which emphasizes service orientation and empowerment, is seen as capable of creating a supportive work climate, building trust, and strengthening more humanistic relationships between leaders and teachers. Meanwhile, work motivation acts as a primary driver influencing teacher readiness to carry out professional duties, fulfill responsibilities, and produce optimal learning processes. Based on a review of various empirical studies, this study shows that servant leadership has both direct and indirect effects on teacher performance by strengthening motivation, commitment, and job satisfaction. Work motivation has also proven to be a crucial variable that not only directly improves performance but also mediates the relationship between leadership style and teacher professional behavior. These findings emphasize the urgency of implementing servant leadership values by principals and the importance of strategies for continuously improving motivation as a strategic step in strengthening the quality of teacher performance in elementary schools. Keyword: Servant Leadership, Work Motivation, Elementary School Teacher Performance]]>
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