There is a growing need for imaginative and creative thought to support leadership among local school systems, and the faculty in educational administration at Washington State University are engaged in a leadership development program for AASA and the National Academy of School Executives. The ideas being developed cover the following areas: 1) the current defensive position of administrators resulting from mere reaction to adverse events; 2) the need to seize initiative and avoid defensive positions; 3) the feasibility of public leadership by school administrators to bring about educational improvements; 4) the focus on public leadership, rooted in active concern for improvement and implying much more than management of existing services and resources; 5) the involvement of lay leaders to supplement personal charisma; 6) some seminar and report objectives to clarify the need for leadership initiative, to outline ways to encourage it, and to arouse public interest and generate public support; and 7) exploratory concepts of "educational needs" likely to elicit public support. (MBM)