Career Growth and Teacher Effectiveness as Determinants of Job Motivation among Public Elementary School Teachers in Philippines

Abstract. This study investigated the determinants of job motivation among public elementary school teachers to provide evidence for strengthening teacher development and motivation programs. Specifically, it examined career growth in terms of professional development, promotion and advancement, and skills enhancement; assessed teacher effectiveness in instructional strategies, classroom management, and professional responsibilities; and determined their influence on teachers' job motivation. Using a non-experimental quantitative, descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 300 teachers selected through stratified random sampling across five districts in the Schools Division of Davao Occidental using validated and pilot-tested survey instruments. Statistical analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed very high levels of career growth, teacher effectiveness, and job motivation. Career growth emerged as the strongest and significant determinant of job motivation, whereas teacher effectiveness did not significantly predict job motivation. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening career advancement opportunities, transparent promotion systems, and continuous professional development to sustain teacher motivation. The study recommends that educational leaders prioritize structured career progression and teacher development initiatives, while future research may examine additional organizational and contextual factors influencing teacher motivation. Keywords: Career Growth; Teacher Effectiveness; Job Motivation; Public Elementary School Teachers; Philippines