This mixed methods study explored how high school principals prioritize their work and utilize available human resources to adjust to inadequate administrative staffing. Analysis of staffing levels across the state of Washington and specifically inside two eastern Washington districts framed interview questions for central office administration and high school principals. This analysis indicates how current administrative staffing levels are influenced by student enrollment, school size, student poverty, and district size. The interviews were the basis for grounding a theory to describe how human resources are allocated to schools and how principals invest those resources. The emergent Proactive-Reactive Relationship Resource Theory frames how principals invest in relationships to both mitigate the magnitude of emergent managerial work and create resources through relationship capital to support school administrative work demands. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]