Can principals without educational background become effective leaders? (c2011)

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.