Theoretical concepts about situational management decisions are incorporated in an investigation of school administrators in Tennessee to determine (1) whether administrators can be identified who possess specified leadership characteristics and (2) if those leaders consider employee maturity criteria when selecting employees for tasks. The study focuses on Hersey and Blanchard's concept that followers' maturity levels are integral to leadership style. Utilizing the high flexibility/high effectiveness leadership characteristics from the theorists' instrument, researchers interviewed 66 school administrators to investigate the two study goals. Findings are presented in 15 tables. The study's primary purpose was accomplished; one-third of respondents scored above cutoff points for high flexibility/high effectiveness, thereby falling within high performance ranges. Regarding age, older men were proportionately better represented than younger men in the high performance categories; data for females do not show this trend. Twenty-nine percent of males scored in the two categories, compared to 50 percent of females. Respondents identified all but one maturity criterion as factors in choosing subordinates for tasks. Systematic research is needed to verify the use of maturity criteria, the male-female proportion in the high performance range, and the disparity in time females spend in classroom experience before obtaining administrative positions, as compared to males. (CJH)