International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences (IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 9 Issue 8, August - 2019 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 | International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences Email:- editorijrim@gmail.com, http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) 1 Distributed Leadership in the Context of Health Education: A Case Study in One Private Free School in Beirut, Lebanon Norma Ghamrawi 1 & Shaymaa El-Khatib 2 Abstract The purpose of this study was to improve students’ health awareness within a private-free school in Beirut, Lebanon through incorporating distributed leadership practices in the school health council. The study focused on “smoking and drug abuse” topic among the school health education topics. The study employed the action research methodology combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative data was derived from inquiry data using closed-ended questions of three questionnaires completed by 237 students and 33 teachers. Qualitative data was derived from artifacts, observation and inquiry data using school documents, journals, field notes, semi-structured interviews, conferencing and open-ended questions of the questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 while qualitative data was treated thematically. Findings indicated that implementing distributed leadership practices among school health council members at the researched school increased students’ health education about smoking and drug dangers, where an improvement in students’ knowledge and perceptions was noted. Keywords: educational leadership; leadership styles; distributed leadership; teacher leadership; student leadership; health education. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview In the 21 st century school system, health education means empowering students to make healthy and accountable choices to develop their independent and mature personalities. Promoting students’ health helps with their educational attainment, likewise increasing their education level helps to improve their health competence. As the director general of world health organization (WHO), H. Nakajima stated: “Health is inextricably linked to educational achievements, quality of life and economic productivity. By acquiring health-related knowledge, values, skills and practices, children can be empowered to pursue a healthy life” (WHO, 1997) (p.1). In fact, Depree (1992) (as cited in Sousa, 2003) gave several responsibilities to the school principal, of which is to focus on the health and climate of the school. Moreover, Sousa (2003) asserted that schools these days are not only teaching children, they are raising them too. They teach the curriculum and are also asked to counsel on drugs, family problems, personal relationships, child rearing tasks such as having enough sleep and healthy breakfast. As a matter of fact, many children according to Sousa (2003) are lacking much of their parents’ follow up which leads to loss of respect for property and opinion of others. 1.1.1 Health Education For all human beings, health is a resource that needs to be maintained and protected. Schools play a big role in the well-being and health of children. Data from the international literature shows the importance of schools as places where health promotion happens, not just because an entire group 1 Full professor of Educational Leadership & Management, Faculty of Education, Lebanese University. 2 Doctoral Candidate in Educational Administration, Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities & Social Studies, Lebanese University.