Principals' Reported Practices in their Hiring Process of Teachers: An Exploratory Study in Lebanese Private Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the hiring decision of principals in a sample of Lebanese private schools. The study aimed at exploring what school principals look for in a teacher candidate and what factors influence their hiring decision. The factors included the teacher’s credentials and character, religion, affiliation with the principal’s leadership style, job recommendations, and nepotism. A total of 27 principals from various private schools in Lebanon participated in this study. The study relied on 27 close-ended questions and 10 open-ended questions collected upon studying ample surveys from existing similar research studies. Data were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the teacher’s character and personality mattered most; recommendations from trusted sources were relied upon; religious beliefs were also valued.