This study investigated the perceptions of middle school principals' immediate superordinates regarding the principal's proper functions and sought to determine if those perceptions were significantly affected by differences in geographic location, sex, age, or administrative background among superordinates. Data were gathered through a Likert-type questionnaire that was mailed to 250 superordinates throughout the United States. Superordinates were asked to rate the importance of 124 administrative functions within the six major categories of curriculum and instruction leadership, personnel guidance, school-community relations, administrative responsibility, evaluation responsibility, and professional improvement. Analysis of the responses showed that superordinates' expectations for middle school principals varied significantly in different geographic regions and that differences in the previous administrative background of superordinates also affected their perceptions. However, neither the age of superordinates nor the number of years they had been in their present position significantly affected perceptions. A valid comparison of responses for male and female superordinates was not possible, because only 5 of the 216 respondents were female. (JG)