School leaders find it extremely hard to lead effectively without a model designed specifically to provide effective leadership in the best interest of students. This study examines the unanswered question as to how to lead successful turnaround efforts in challenging schools today. A critical analysis of studies found the absence of an effective leadership model for urban and rural school leaders. We sought to develop a new model to answer the guiding question of how to effectively lead urban and rural school leaders presented with a unique challenge.. The Torchbearer leadership model, developed from this study, could be a conceptual process as an option for urban and rural principals who are struggling to lead challenging schools.