Abstract:
The following paper introduces an exploratory research study conducted in a private
school in Beirut. The importance of this study resides in its contribution to the literature on
school management and leadership. It introduces a new research problem through which the
researcher discusses her speculation about the performance of private school owners in Lebanon,
who are running their own school with limited education background. Out of a teaching
experience in one of these schools, the researcher decided to find answers for her speculations
and in the same school she used to teach. More specifically, she explored the school owner’s role
and style in running his school, and the type of culture he established, through both qualitative
and quantitative instruments (interview, observation, and questionnaire). Findings were
triangulated and results indicated: (1)- the ineffective role the school owner played except for
maintaining discipline and order, (2)- the ineffective autocratic style he showed in fulfilling his
role, and (3)- the school owner’s failure in establishing a positive culture.
