UPAYA KEPALA SEKOLAH MEMELIHARA MOTIVASI GURU: STUDI KUALITATIF DI MADRASAH TSANAWIYAH SWASTA KABUPATEN KUNINGAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34125/jmp.v10i4.1269Keywords:
kepemimpinan berbasis makna, motivasi guru, motivasi intristik, kepemimpinan madrasahAbstract
This study aims to examine how principals in private Madrasah Tsanawiyah sustain and strengthen teacher motivation amid systemic pressures, limited resources, and increasing administrative demands. The research focuses on the roles of meaning-making, interpersonal relations, and ethical leadership in fostering teachers’ intrinsic motivation. A qualitative approach was employed using a multisite case study design involving three madrasahs located in both rural and urban areas of Kuningan Regency. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis revealed that teacher motivation does not rely on financial incentives but is grounded in professional meaning constructed through reflective dialogue, emotional support, and caring leadership practices. Principals act as “meaning guardians” by providing psychological safety, personal recognition, and moral presence. Teachers also demonstrate moral agency through subtle resistance to rigid administrative demands. This study proposes the Meaning-Based Motivation Model, which explains how ethical leadership, reflective dialogue, and professional narrative reconstruction shape intrinsic motivation within low-resource madrasahs. The model offers an alternative to performance-based management by emphasizing humanistic, relational, and moral dynamics of leadership.
References
Adam, K. M., Nurkolis, N., & Sumarno, S. (2025). Pengaruh gaya kepemimpinan partisipatif kepala madrasah, budaya kerja dan motivasi kerja terhadap profesionalisme guru madrasah aliyah pada Lembaga Pendidikan Ma’arif di Kabupaten Kendal. SOCIAL: Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPS, 5(1), 171–180. https://doi.org/10.51878/social.v5i1.4719
Ahmad, M. (2022). Analisis kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam peningkatan kinerja guru. Akademika: Jurnal Keagamaan dan Pendidikan, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.56633/jkp.v20i1.628
Aurellia, F. (2025). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation of Fourth Grade Teachers at Muhammadiyah 1: Motivasi Intrinsik dan Ekstrinsik Guru Kelas IV di Muhammadiyah 1. Journal of Islamic and Muhammadiyah Studies, 7(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.21070/jims.v7i2.1647
Ball, S. J. (2010). The necessity and violence of theory. London: Routledge.
Biesta, G. (2015). Beautiful risk of education. London: Routledge.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2008). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (L. Habib, Ed.; 3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrKGJwBXTFpFQIAUXXLQwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzQEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1766052353/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2febooks.umu.ac.ug%2flibrarian%2fbooks-file%2fQualitative%2520Inquiry%2520and%2520Researc%2520-%2520John%2520W.%2520Creswell.pdf/RK=2/RS=mqBOTxRVNA5qJfcmhLKuCloNUg4-
Dahlan, R. M., Samsuri, Malihatun, E., Morisson, B., Abdurrohman, A., Basyit, A., & Madali. (2025). Teachers’ motivation in developing quality learning in rural schools in Indonesia. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1597989
Daud, D., & Kun Nurachadijat. (2023). Peningkatan motivasi kerja guru ditinjau dari kepemimpinan kepala sekolah. Simpati, 1(3), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.59024/simpati.v1i3.239
Darwanto, A., Enas, & Saryono, O. (2025). OPTIMALISASI MANAJEMEN SEKOLAH DALAM PENGUATAN PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER. Jurnal Penelitian Kebijakan Pendidikan, 17(2), 127–140. https://doi.org/10.24832/jpkp.v17i2.969
Edwards, D., Schmidt, M., & Mestry, R. (2023). Core values of ethical leaders in South African schools. South African Journal of Education, 43(2), S1–S11. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v43ns2a2469
Fadillah, M. K., Dacholfany, M. I., Tuala, R. P., Winingsih, H., & Marpuah, S. (2024). Leadership, organizational culture, work motivation, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction as determinants of teacher performance. Fitrah: Journal of Islamic Education, 5(1), 48–73. https://doi.org/10.53802/fitrah.v5i1.821
Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the Oppressed : 30th Anniversary Edition (M. B. Ramos, Trans.; 30th ed.). Continuum. https://welib.org/md5/e7c9674042510ad3ea480ea553f6f4c0
Hanan, K.-D., Bahaking, R., Syamsudduha, S., & Rahman, D. (2023). Pengaruh kepemimpinan kepala madrasah terhadap motivasi kerja guru. Adaara: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.30863/ajmpi.v13i1.2591
Hargreaves, A., & Fink, D. (2012). Sustainable leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Herzberg, F. (1966). Work and the nature of man. Cleveland, OH: World Publishing.
Karim, A., Siregar, B., Prayoga, B. I., Suyitno, S., & Kartiko, A. (2023). Pengaruh kompetensi kepala sekolah dan komitmen organisasi terhadap motivasi kerja guru pada Madrasah Tsanawiyah. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 3(3), 306–318. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v3i3.287
Kementrian Pendidikan, K. R. dan T. (2024). Laporan Kinerja 2023. https://id.scribd.com/document/762570063/Laporan-Kinerja-Ditjen-GTK-Tahun-2023
Letari, A. M., Suwandi, S., & Pranata, I. K. (2025). Performance-based management and moral fatigue among Indonesian teachers . Educational Management Review, 19(1), 11–25.
Letari, U., Ramli, R., Irma, Tajuddin, Taufik, & Saleh, Abd. R. (2025). Optimalisasi Kinerja Sekolah Melalui Penerapan Manajemen Berbasis Sekolah. Sulawesi Tenggara Educational Journal, 5(1), 233–242. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54297/seduj.v5i1.1103
Masithoh, D., Mulyana, A., & Rukmini, S. (2025). Work engagement among honorary teachers: Structural pressure and emotional burnout . Indonesian Journal of Educational Research, 14(2), 98–115. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26737/ijer.v14i2.4923
Milles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (K. Perry, Ed.; 3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awrx_i.SYDFp8AEAQfLLQwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1766053266/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2farchive.org%2fdownload%2fspradleyanalisisdatakualitatifmodeletnografi%2fMatthew_Miles%252C_Michael_Hberman%252C_Johnny_Sdana-Qualitative_Data_Analysis__A_Methods_Sourcebook-Sage_%25282014%2529%255B1%255D.pdf/RK=2/RS=QmHlR54z2ulfu3XU2Laew4pzrMc-
Muh Ibnu Sholeh, Haris, M., Nur ‘Azah, M., Syafiuddin Shobirin, S., Wahrudin, B., Muzakki, H., & Ismail, T. (2024). The role of teachers in increasing students' learning motivation in Islamic religious education. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 21(2), 421–441. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.v21i2.8846
Noddings, N. (2014). The Challenge to Care in Schools: An Alternative Approach to Education, Second Edition (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/The_Challenge_to_Care_in_Schools/LaRDAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
Pujiastuti, G. R., & Yohamintin. (2025). Analisis Kompetensi Sosial Guru dalam Menurunkan Risiko Burnout Guru di SDN. Pendas : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(3), 215–225.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54–67. https://doi.org/10.1006/CEPS.1999.1020
Sasmiaji, V., Sukirman, & Suyatno. (2025). Transformational leadership in overcoming teacher burnout. Eduvest - Journal of Universal Studies, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.59188/eduvest.v5i3.51018
Sihakawan, Z. (2024). Does servant leadership overcome teacher burnout? Principal's strategic approach. Al Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.33650/al-tanzim.v7i2.4548
Solikatun, & Hasanah, U. (2019). Korelasi gaya kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dan motivasi kerja guru terhadap kinerja guru di Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 3 Nganjuk. Intelektual: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Studi Keislaman, 9(2), 129–144. https://doi.org/10.33367/ji.v9i2.973
Solekha, S., Sumarno, & Rasiman. (2024). The influence of school principal leadership and work environment on teacher work motivation in elementary school. Belajea: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 241–262. https://doi.org/10.29240/belajea.v9i2.13221
Sugiyono, & Omolu, A. P. (2023). Gaya kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan kualitas guru di Madrasah Aliyah Al Ikhlash Tinabogan. Journal of Educational Management and Islamic Leadership (JEMIL), 2(2). https://doi.org/10.56338/jemil.v2i2.4064
Syawaliarti, S. (2022). Gaya kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan motivasi kerja guru di lingkungan MTs.N 1 Kota Pekanbaru. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 6(1), 552–560. https://doi.org/10.31004/jptam.v6i1.2945
Taqwim, M. (2024). The influence of work culture and work motivation on teacher performance. Journal of Islamic Studies and Education, 3(1), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.63120/jise.v3i3.47
Ting, H., Wong, M., & Lau, C. (2025). Effective snowball sampling strategies in qualitative education research . International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241234567
Tsalis Imamuddin. (2023). Pengaruh kepemimpinan dan motivasi kepala sekolah terhadap kinerja guru. Journal of Education Research, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v5i4.1616
Vani Sasmiaji, Sukirman, & Suyatno. (2025). Transformational leadership in overcoming teacher burnout. Eduvest - Journal of Universal Studies, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.59188/eduvest.v5i3.51018
Yiniarti, Y. (2023). Leadership and motivation as determinants of teacher performance: Evidence from Indonesian junior secondary schools. ISEJ: Indonesian Science Education Journal, 4(1), 1–10.
Yin, R. K. (2017). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (L. Fargotstein, Ed.; Sixth Edition). SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books/about/Case_Study_Research_and_Applications.html?id=6DwmDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
Zaini, A. W., & Sanjani, M. A. F. (2024). Improving Islamic religious education teachers' performance through effective school leadership. Afkarina: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.33650/afkarina.v8i1.5331
Zebua, S., Haluk, P., Pinoa, S. A., Kahfi, A., & Dzulhasnan, A. H. (2025). The influence of principal’s leadership style and work motivation on teacher performance. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 6(1), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v6i1.628
