The purpose of this qualitative case study was to document and understand the behaviors of one state Principal of the Year that led an elementary school to excellence over a five-year period. Specifically, this study focused on the characteristics of leadership, the perceptions of stakeholders (faculty, staff, district leaders, community members, and co-workers), and the journey to excellence over a five-year period. This study can serve as a model that can be replicated by leaders struggling with ways to improve schools for teachers and students. This case study provided a single example of a real person in a real school, who has documented evidence of leading a school from below average to excellence in a five-year period. The study was qualitative in nature and uses a case study approach to identify phenomena within the context of school leadership. The study drew upon the characteristics of the population that consisted of 50 American Schools Elementary Principal of the Year, 646 elementary school principals in South Carolina, and 12 elementary principals in this school district, and the ways in which it can be integrated into Interstate School Leadership Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards. All of this was done in an effort to determine a common theme in successful principals and school districts. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]