School systems throughout the world are struggling with the issue of who will lead public schools today, and in the future. The patriarchal model from the past, when authority was not to be questioned and educational leadership was viewed in a straightforward, one-dimensional perspective, has been replaced by a complicated combination of expectations and pressures. This article outlines preparation and training factors that should be considered by school boards in selecting leadership candidates, and when designing training models for school leadership. Understanding the frustrations and contradictions that exist in the modern school environment makes survival in school leadership a matter of political aptitude, and a function of technical skill. The requirement becomes a search for individuals who can guide their schools in response to local needs while meeting non-local mandates.