The purpose of this study is to describe the perceptions of superintendent search consultants as they relate to the selection of superintendent candidates. The synergistic leadership theory (SLT) developed by Irby, Brown, Duffy and Trautman (2002) provided the theoretical framework needed to analyze the characteristics search consultants perceive school boards desire in superintendent candidates. The SLT includes the measurement of leadership and management behavior, external forces that impact leadership, organizational characteristics, and attitudes, values and beliefs. The results of this study analyzed superintendent search consultant perspectives of traits that school boards valued in superintendent applicants and also analyzed various behaviors to determine those that were considered important for an applicant to possess.