The problem. Educational leaders face challenges in the 21st century, make numerous decisions daily, and have the choice to make decisions based on ethics. Educational leaders may follow a corporate model regarding expenses and revenues while ignoring the best interests of children and their academic achievement. The alternative to the corporate model is the ethical mode of decision making. While the corporate model looks at the bottom line regarding funds, the ethical model looks to establish the general well-being of the individual student and all stakeholders at the school. This study determined common characteristics of effective and ethical educational leaders as well as explored the extent to which ethical decision making is an indicator of an effective ethical leader. Method. This research focused on a comparative methodology utilizing primary data collection. Data were collected in the form of a survey. The survey instrument was designed by the researcher and included demographic questions along with questions specific to the key variables in the study. The survey was administered at three universities and colleges in Southern California; 168 out of 180 pre-K through higher education educators responded to the survey. Results. The data suggested that from an educator's perspective, there is a strong correlation between effective leadership and ethical decision making. Honesty, listening, integrity, competency, and motivating were ranked in this order as the top five characteristics valued most for an effective leader. Visionary was listed as the least chosen characteristic of an effective leader. This study found that honesty and integrity are the most important characteristics an educator values in his or her leader. When one is asked to describe ethical characteristics of a leader, often the words honesty and integrity are chosen. Schools in today's society, more than ever before, require ethical leaders. Leaders are defined as individuals who serve in the roles of principals, vice principals, deans, superintendents, school board members, lead teachers, and classroom teachers who are leaders in their classrooms, to demonstrate ethical leadership by modeling ethical behaviors through action and making decisions based on ethics. Acting ethically, however, may not improve test scores and the leader must be cognizant of this. Integrity distances itself from honesty. Honesty is telling the truth. Integrity is keeping one's commitments and promises. Trust is the foundation for an educational leader's effectiveness. [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.]