The leader, more than any other individual in an organization, has a profound impact upon that organization's success. Whether in the business sector or public education, it is nearly impossible for an organization to acquire and sustain success without strong leadership. Many businesses go to great lengths to develop individuals with leadership potential from within their organizations. The strategy of identifying and developing potential leaders within an organization is termed succession management. This study analyzed the effect of providing leadership opportunities through the application of succession management on the self-perceived degree of preparation and job effectiveness of first-time Pennsylvania superintendents. The study concluded that exposure to the duties of the superintendent within the district prior to assuming the position had a significant impact on the participants' self-perceived degree of preparation and job effectiveness. The study also concluded the positive impact of mentorship, distributive leadership, and the professional learning community on the development of the participants' leadership preparation. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]