Findings revealed that while respondents perceived the 21 competencies identified in the literature (Marzano et al. 2005) as being important to consider in the selection of an effective principal. These included affirmation; change agent; contingent rewards; communication; culture; discipline; flexibility; focus; ideals and beliefs; input; intellectual stimulation; involvement in curriculum, instruction, and assessment; knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and assessment; monitoring and evaluating; optimizer; order; outreach; relationships; resources; situational awareness; and visibility, the principal’s ability to communicate was the single most important competency, followed visibility. Only two competencies were perceived to be less important to consider when selecting a principal: change agent and intellectual stimulation, Additionally, findings indicate that finance, knowledge about special needs, data-driven decision making, loyalty, ethics, triage partnering, professional development, and balance are additional important competencies.