Abstract: This article is devoted to studying leadership in the context of the school environment in Russia in the second half of the twentieth century. Special attention is paid to analyzing various aspects of school leadership, including its impact on the educational process, the development of students' personalities, the formation of team spirit, and social responsibility. The article also discusses methods and approaches to developing student leadership skills and the impact of school leadership on public life and success in future careers.

The results of the study reveal the importance of school leadership for the formation of values, skills, and qualities necessary for successful social adaptation and professional development of students. The article provides an opportunity to consider the aspect of school leadership in various historical periods of the country's development. The work uses theoretical research methods, such as the analysis of the literature under study, the synthesis of the data obtained, and the method of summarizing information.

Scientific novelty: Identification of development patterns of leadership qualities in schoolchildren in the educational process in the second half of the twentieth century in Russia. Leadership is a truly complex social phenomenon. The development of this area is relevant in this period of time. Society and its dynamics present new challenges and form new requirements for a true leader. The ability to manage a group, interact with each of its members, take responsibility, and lead a team to its goal can be called an art. Leadership issues are key to achieving effective work organization. On the one hand, leadership is considered as the presence of a certain set of qualities attributed to those who successfully influence others; on the other hand, leadership is a process of predominantly non-forceful influence in achieving a group's goals. Leadership is a specific type of managerial interaction based on the most practical combination of various power sources and aimed at encouraging people to achieve common goals.