Abstract

D. C. McClelland's trichotomy of needs was used as the theoretical framework to examine needs as they might impact the problem of educator shortage. This study examines the need for achievement, the need for power and the need for affiliation as they relate to roles and job satisfaction of Texas superintendents and teachers . Data on needs were gather from three scales of Jackson's Personality Research Form and the Job In General scale of the Job Descriptive Index was used to collect data on job satisfaction. Eight of the ten null hypotheses were rejected providing evidence that motivational profiles of superintendents are significantly different from profiles of teachers and that needs have a significant ability to predict job satisfaction and to discriminate between the position of superintendent and teacher. Additionally, a specific motivational profile was found to exist in a greater proportion for superintendents and teachers. This profile reflects the similarities between superintendents and business executives. Empirical evidence in this study provides a better understanding of the relationships among needs, job satisfaction, and leadership in Texas education