In the article, the authors tried to solve the problem of professional competencies and qualities of the school principal based on the analysis of scientific, pedagogical, and specialized literature. A review of the literature showed that the study of directorship as a subject of research began in Anglo-Saxon countries and since the 1900s scientists from the USA, Great Britain, Australia and Canada have been researching various issues concerning school principals. The relevance of this issue resumed in the 1970s. This is due to the fact that in these years the issue of school efficiency has become important.

Based on the study of the works of foreign and Kazakhstani researchers, the authors tried to characterize the portrait of the headmaster, his functions and components of professional competence. The researchers also presented the principles of an exemplary leadership strategy.

The peculiarity of this study is that scientists have tried for the first time in the framework of Kazakh science to present their vision of the problem of the new director. The paper reveals the challenges and strategies to overcome them.