The quality of instruction in the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students is based on comprehensive preservice teacher education programs and instructional supervision of beginning teachers by a qualified veteran teacher. However, declining enrollments in special schools for the deaf and the fragmented placement of hearing-impaired students in public schools has resulted in a lack of instructional leadership available to beginning teachers, particularly in rural areas. The Intermountain Instructional Leadership Program (IILP) at Idaho State University prepares post-master's special education teachers to provide instructional leadership for deaf and hearing-impaired students in a variety of public school placement options. The focus of training is on a collaborative consultant approach to working with schools, agencies, organizations, communities, and parents in improving the education for deaf and hearing-impaired students. The program consists of 14 months of training resulting in an educational specialist's degree. Graduate students complete 30 hours of post-master's courses at Idaho State University, plan and implement a professional study resulting in a research report, and complete a practicum or internship. Currently, the IILP is developing a "Professional Leadership" series that gives students exposure via satellite courses to instructional leaders in the field of deaf education. It is hoped that this graduate program, with its emphasis on placements in rural areas, will contribute significantly to the development of appropriate, quality educational programs and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in rural public schools. (LP)