Purpose: The caring leadership of principals is viewed as a professional method for utilizing emotional capital. The present study investigated the moderating relationship of caring leadership with the associations between emotional geographies, emotional distance and school climate. Design/methodology/approach: Data from a cross-sectional survey of 305 Israeli teachers working in public schools were used to investigate a model of moderated mediation. Findings: Caring leadership of principals moderates the association of emotional distance with school climate and is related to mediated associations between emotional geographies and school climate. Originality/value: This is the first study to combine Hargreaves' theory of emotional geographies of schools with principals' caring leadership, providing insight on the role of school leadership in bridging fundamental gaps between key actors and treating crippling emotional dynamics.