The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how mid-career elementary school principals in the suburbs of Philadelphia experience their interactions with parents who participate in social networking as a form of school engagement. Analysis of the accounts of the lived experiences of 11 elementary school principals produced four experiential themes, categorized under two main ideas, one of which represented constraints and the other, opportunities for principals as they engage with these parents. These themes provided insight into how interactions with parents who take part in social networking make principals feel and also how they impact the principals' ability to lead. The themes also led to the development of a toolbox of strategies principals use to navigate these interactions. This study found that while parent social networks pose significant challenges for school leaders, strategic leadership and engagement strategies can be used both reactively to address those challenges and proactively to avoid them. Principals in this study valued parent school engagement and sought ways to leverage these parent social networks for positive relationships between the school and the community. [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/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]