As the current president of National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Barbara Chester has the responsibility of representing the organization's members in their efforts as advocates for children. Principal Chester's answers to the interview questions reflect the challenges facing schools and the role that principals need to play in addressing them. Principal Chester's responses to the questions had two recurring themes: doing what was good for students and making education a national priority. Principal Chester emphasized the importance of being an effective principal through communication and relationship building. She identified honesty, integrity, and trust as key characteristics of effective principals. In addition, she stressed having a clear, effective vision for principals to move their schools forward. Her responses addressed many of the key goals of NAESP. Principal Chester reminds everyone that leadership, no matter how well intentioned, is marginalized by poor communication and negative relationships. To be influential, administrators must have knowledge, skills, and dispositions that allow them to collaborate with stakeholders, both inside and outside schools.