Although several studies provide insights regarding the impact of the elementary school principal upon the success of the school reading program and student reading achievement scores, there are few, if any, studies that link characteristics of principals with actual standardized test scores. In this study, field notes and observations, along with teacher and principal interviews, are synthesized for four elementary principals. After these data are triangulated, four principal composites emerge and are subsequently analyzed within the standards established by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. These four principal composites are then linked with three years of second graders' reading test scores. Three concepts that enable an elementary school principal to influence the school reading program and student test scores are: (1) the vision of the principal; (2) the educational background of the principal; and (3) the principal's role as an instructional leader. The following are appended: (1) Description of Reading Programs; (2) Guiding Questions of the Principal Protocol Interview; and (3) NAESP Standards. (Contains 1 figure.)