Leaders play a significant role in shaping educational outcomes (Kulophas & Hallinger, 2020,). The responsibilities of principals are constantly evolving, and concurrently, the competencies and qualifications that an international candidate must demonstrate upon assuming the position are also changing. It evokes the interest in recruiting, selecting school principals (Gordon, S. P. 2020), and innovating leadership preparation program (Davis S. H., Darling-Hammond L., 2012) that form a new principal selection model that is relevant to the specific context (Young, 2008). In general, the Russian educational system is characterized by the absence of a unifiedy system and a universal selection model, instead, it’s regulated by the regional level.This paper describes the experience of developing principal selection school model that responds education policy и context specifics of a Russian Metropolis. In fact, the appropriate methodology for selecting principals in Russian Metropolis is crucial as they manage large educational complexes (Pavlova M.K., Tsatrian M.A., 2024). One more feature of regional education system is a constant rotation of principals that create a situation of uncertainty and changes. These conditions bring to the fore such competences as adaptability and readiness to change that a school principal of Russian Metropolis should have.
Following a competency-based selection model theory that is designed to identify the right candidates from a large pool of applicants (Boyatzis, 1991; Fraser-Arnott, 2017), the authors propose their own preliminary competence matrix based on an analysis of international and Russian school principal standards and competence models (including those from the Netherlands, Australia, New York, England etc.) which is further supplemented by emprical research. Based on this matrix, requirements of government and labour market needs, we developed the model of selection, relying on candidates’ potential.
Thus, this paper aims to adress to the following research questions:
1. What factors must be considered in the development of a principal selection model?
2. What methods and instruments provide relevant information for developing a principal selection model in a specific educational context?
3. How should the decision-making system for appointments to positions be structures to minimize potential errors and distortions and ensure results that aligh with the established competence model?

"The sample for this study consisted of current principals and vice principals of a Russian Metropolis with various management experience (1-12 years). We used a mix-method approach to carry out the research that included several stages: exploratory, testing and final. Exploratory stage: - we analyzed approaches to school principals selection in more than 15 countries concentrating on the government policy in different stages of selection and selection methods; - we collected data about the specific of Russian Metropolis educational system via 2 group interviews (n=12), 10 deep-in interviews with current principals, questionnarie to explore real managing tasks (n=120) - we developed the preliminary model that included key cutting off competencies (building the relationaship, adaptability and results orientation) and the ""career flow"" of candidates intending to take a position of school principal including preparation program Testing stage: - we tested educational program and set of evaluation procedures on current vice-principals who tend to change their position in near future (n=60) Final stage: - we finalized the exhisting model considering the testing results and built the route that a candidate must complete to become school principal in Russian Metropolis system All qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis folowing Braun and Clark (2006) methodology, which includes the following: familiarization with data corpus, b) code generation these development, c) theme development, d) theme revision, e) theme organisation, and f) reporting. After all procedures the results of qualitative and quantative analysis were aggregated for further conclusions.

"The study resulted in the model designed for selecting candidates for the position of school principals in a Russian Metropolis, taking into consideration the specific of the context and candidates potential. This model comprises 10 steps that needed to be covered in a process of selection: declaration stage, technical portfolio analysis, assessment of cognitive abilities and soft skills, competency-based interviews, assessment center, educational program, summarization, resulting in division of candidates into three groups: return to start, (with the possibility of re-participation after 3+ years), management talent pool (where candidates improve their skill and build community) and those who progress to the final stage, where they solve case tasks and show their stress-resistance. Successfully passing this stage, candidates proceed to a final interview with representatives of government authorities. Moreover, we will present ways for enhancing objectivity of making the decisions about the appointment, which include the usage of various empirical methods such as interviews and questionnaires at the upcoming conference. The results of the research will allow to come closer to solving the problem of selecting educational leaders, which still stays unsolved in the modern research and educational agenda (Popović, T., Alfirević, N., & Relja, R., 2019).

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