Principals are essential in any institution of learning. Great schools do not exist in the absence of a great principal, which demonstrates the importance of strong leadership. However, due to complexities and the demanding nature of their jobs, there has been an increasing deficiency in the supply of these professionals. Schools have recorded high attrition rates for new principals, which are higher than retention rates. The purpose of this qualitative study aimed to discuss the effectiveness of these programs in fostering reliable principals with the appropriate skills to handle the pressure and still deliver on their work. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to gather the necessary data for this research. The results of this study uncovered four themes that relate to best practices for principal mentorship programs. These results can be used to improve novice principal retention by offering them guided mentorship grounded in necessary skills. [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.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]