Mairette Newman

The view that values play a crucial role in how principals conceptualise and interpret school leadership is not new. However, very little if the research underpinning this view has been conducted in developing countries. Drawing on qualitative case study research into how principals in Jamaica conceptualise school leadership, this paper explores the role if values in informing and guiding the leadership decisions and practices if'four exemplary Jtigh school
principals. It identifies care and respect, socialjustice and excellence aspoweiful influences on how they defined, interpreted and enacted school leadership and argues that these values supersededpolicy and accountability issues.