In order to cultivate a culture that challenges the status quo and expects excellence, school leaders need to learn, develop, and demonstrate high levels of emotional intelligence. Studying emotional intelligence provides leaders with the awareness necessary to meet the needs of a staff that is engaged in developing a common vision for their school, maintaining a focus on high achievement for all students, and creating school cultures of trust and respect. Leadership continues to be a focal point for school reform, so policy makers and institutions of higher education need to act on the research that shows the relationship between emotional intelligence and effective leadership.