The view that values play a crucial role in how principals conceptualise and interpret school leadership is not new. However, very little of the research underpinning this view has been conducted in developing countries. Drawing on qualitative case study research into how principals in Jamaica conceptualise school leadership, this paper explores the role of values in informing and guiding the leadership decisions and practices of four exemplary high school principals. It identifies care and respect, social justice and excellence as powerful influences on how they defined, interpreted and enacted school leadership and argues that these values superseded policy and accountability issues.