The results of the research on the deficiency of professional competencies in school principals with experience of up to 2 years and experienced managers of general education organizations are considered in accordance with the draft of the Professional Standard “Head of an Educational Organization”. The revealed dependencies show the main directions of professional development for the directors and justify the activation of work on the formation of the personnel reserve and preparation for the entry into office. Researches were conducted by the staff of the Institute of Education Management of RAO in 2017, heads of 24 Russian regions took part in the on-line survey. The work was carried out within the framework of the State task for the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research of the State Academies of Sciences for 2013-2020 (in the part of RAO) (approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 3, 2012 No. 2237-r) on the theme: “Theoretical and methodological basis for professional development of managers in education system” (state registration № 27.9385.2017/8.9).

In the modern world, rapid changes are taking place in many areas of human activity. The processes of globalization and the acceleration of scientific and technological progress require the search and introduction of new educational teaching technologies in the educational process. The requirements for teaching methods and their quality are steadily increasing. The methods of professional training used in the 20th century cannot provide the necessary level of quality in the new conditions, this creates the need for a constant search for even more effective approaches to the professional training of future specialists, including environmentalists. Motivating students to actively participate in the educational process, increasing their creative activity is important for them to gain new knowledge and skills. The most important condition for the formation of motivation is a close correlation between the educational process and the professional activities of future specialists. Case-study is, in our opinion, one of the most effective tools for improving the quality of training of modern specialists. Its functional capabilities largely meet the requirements that society imposes on the modern education system.