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The study examined whether or not research is being put into practice to select the best and the brightest for the position of principal and attempts to categorize ways in which discrimination occurs by identifying whether hiring agents discriminate against certain kinds of candidates. Specifically, three kinds of bias are examined: (1) gender of the candidate; (2) experience versus knowledge or education of the candidate; and (3) miscellaneous variables in hiring practices. The sample population included all 39 elementary and secondary principals in Washington County, Maine, with 29 (74%) of the principals responding. The perceptions indiciate that superintendents and school boards are not as objective, fair, and equitable as they should be in selecting and hiring principals. There is an apparent disregard for the level of education or knowledge of candidates on the part of hiring agents. Implications for the future are discussed. Appended are seven references and a bar graph of characteristics of the respondents in the sample population. (SI)