Screening decisions of female and male middle school principals were examined for applicants varying in national origin (Hispanic versus non-Hispanic) and type of job experience (direct versus indirect) for a middle school principalship. Principals' reactions were assessed according to perceived qualifications of applicants, probability of extending an invitation to interview, and likely initial salary offer; cast into a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design; analyzed via a stepdown analysis of variance; and interpreted from a multidimensional theoretical perspective. Results indicated that female principals use a different frame of reference than do male principals when screening applicants and have implications for staffing the assistant principal position at the middle school level. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)