This study examines how two autonomous organizations collaborate toward preparing school principals. Studies exploring the early phases of partnership creation are missing from the current literature. As universities continue to partner with school districts to prepare principals, understanding the early development process is important. This study focuses on the beginnings of a university school district partnership using Gajda's five principles of collaboration and Kezar's Stage Model for Collaboration. Findings suggest that while the collaboration successfully enrolled students, challenges in the collaboration's initial phase impede a smooth transition from partnership planning to implementation.