This article features Haymon-Morris Middle School in Winder, Georgia. This highly successful Title I middle school is tucked behind the high school in a rural area 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. The staff is dedicated to creating a culture where it is believed that a calm, serene school setting results in less stress for both students and staff members and leads to more fruitful learning. The school day opens with a classical music selection, such as a Mozart or Vivaldi composition. At the start of school each day, students go to their lockers, which are located inside their Home Base classrooms instead of the hallway to avoid the chaos that accompanies this activity in some middle schools. This tranquil atmosphere continues in various ways throughout the day, including early morning sustained silent reading and silent passage in the hallways as students transition from core academics in the team area to arts and physical education in a different part of the building. There are no bells--the goal is to prevent the disturbance of other grade levels that may be on a different schedule. Principal Sheila Kahrs, the 2010 MetLife/NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year, believes that the culture of the school fosters and encourages respect among all the groups of people who work and study there. Recognizing the close tie between strong principal leadership and high achievement in the school, Principal Kahrs shares how she believes her background, experience, skills, and knowledge have had a direct impact on the success of the school.