Irreplaceable teachers in the AI era are teacher leaders

This study examined how school principals conceptualised “irreplaceable” teachers in AI-enabled schools and how these portrayals intersected with teacher leadership. Using an interpretive qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 principals from AI-active K–12 private schools in five Arab countries. Principals were recruited through a regional professional network, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings showed that teachers whom principals