Leadership challenges in conflict zones: Being a female principal in an East Jerusalem school

Omar Mizel
Ono College, Israel

This study presents the case of "Samira", the female principal of a school in East Jerusalem, navigating a highly complex and crisis-prone educational system during the Covid-19 pandemic and the war that erupted on 7 October 2023. The research included three in-depth interviews over three years with Samira and a visit to her school. The findings revealed the social, systemic, and political challenges she faced, along with the innovative management methods she employed, some of which are not recognised in Western educational management literature. This case study highlights the significant insights gained from her leadership, especially in conservative and traditional societal contexts, demonstrating how both traditional and modern management approaches can be blended effectively. This study provides valuable strategies for educational leaders facing crises in politically charged environments, emphasising the importance of adaptability, resilience, and cultural sensitivity in leadership.
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Author: Dr Omar Mizel, Academic Director, Faculty of Education, Ono Academic College, Israel, brings 30 years of experience in teaching, research, and leading projects for local authorities. He holds a BA in behavioural sciences and education jointly from Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an MA in education leadership from the Hebrew University, and a PhD in educational leadership from the University of Leicester, UK. Dr Mizel has served as a researcher and lecturer at several prestigious institutions including Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University, Kaye College, Oranim College, Achva College, Al-Qasmi College, and Or Yehuda College in Israel. He also held a rank of Associate Professor and served as a researcher and lecturer at Würzburg University, Germany; Chester University, England; Al-Quds University; and Bethlehem University in Palestine. His research interests focus on cultural research, leadership, self-management, and education for multi-culturalism. Email: omar.mi@ono.ac.il, omarmizel@hotmail.com Please cite as: Mizel, O. (2025). Leadership challenges in conflict zones: Being a female principal in an East Jerusalem school. Issues in Educational Research, 35(1), 255-275. http://www.iier.org.au/iier35/mizel.pdf