The paper deals with certain aspects of the system of work of a school principal of the worldwide known Pavlysh school that became the basis of a wholesome pedagogical system created by a prominent educator V.O. Sukhomlynsky. The key terms of the efficiency of this pedagogical system were the conditions that ensured high productivity of the educational process, the developed methods of various analyses of the school life, positive practice of long-term planning of the educational institution functioning, the trouble-shooting and functional approach in school management, clear signs of a united teaching staff and the model of formation of such staff, common values and standards adopted by all the subjects of school life etc.