Understanding a head teacher's role as an educational leader is a mostly neglected area especially in developing countries including Pakistan. Most of the head teachers perform managerial and administrative roles, and very little time is given to academic leadership, which negatively affects the quality of education in the schools.

I conducted a study to understand a head teacher's perceived and performed role in a community school located in Karachi. In order to understand the head teacher's different dimensions of the role a qualitative approach was used. Data was gathered through a variety of methods including interviews, classroom observations, discussions and document analysis to cross-check information for triangulation purpose. The findings suggest that the head teacher perceived her role as a facilitator, team builder and change agent.

She also acted as an instructional leader and a manager. These role dimensions indicate that the head teacher acts as an educational leader by giving professional support to teachers, by enriching curriculum, creating close relationships with community and by creating a collaborative learning environment at school. There seems to be harmony to some extent between the head teacher 's perceived and performed roles.