University faculty and practicing educators in Washington State are concerned about the future availability of talented candidates for leadership positions in public and private elementary and secondary schools. This paper examines market trends for the positions of principal and vice-principal in Washington State. It identifies the following four trends: (1) small candidate pools; (2) the continuing construction of new schools; (3) increased numbers of administrator retirements through the year 2000; and (4) decreased numbers of students in educational-administration programs. In addition, turnover patterns offer incumbents and newcomers opportunities for positions. District-level attention to principals' role overload is the key variable for creating a better match between numbers of candidates and numbers of positions. A group of practitioners who attended the June 1996 conference of the Association of Washington School Principals and the Washington Association of School Administrators developed the following recommendations for increasing the number of talented candidates: make the principal's role more attractive; increase support for incumbents and interns; improve communication about available positions; and increase funding for internships. Three tables are included. (LMI)