This Digest examines the reasons why--outside of retirement--school principals leave their jobs. It also lists strategies districts can employ to retain principals. Many principals exit their profession because of the long hours, the workload and complexity of the job, the unending supervision of evening activities, the minimal pay difference between top teachers and administrators, and increasingly complex social problems. To ease the burden on principals, some school districts employ job sharing in which tasks are divided among two or more leaders who possess skills in different areas. One district in Tennessee, for example, initiated a plan whereby one principal begins with the freshman class and then follows the students through all 4 years of high school. To ease principals' frustration over the time they spend on administrative tasks, some districts have started training programs to certify business managers, freeing principals to focus more on instruction and curriculum. Other districts have tried to retain principals by providing more professional development and by offering more opportunities to network. When asked, most principals voice a desire for more training, a need that school boards can address by educating the community about the challenges principals face. (Contains 10 references.) (RJM)