The best method to set the values for your options in your select list, seems to be to use 'track-by' (using a.id as a.name seems to be out-dated) in your ng-options directive. However, when I use 'track by', I am no longer able to set the default value using ng-model.
Take for example, this plunkr: http://plnkr.co/edit/OZCal9ZkCQeqnQJY0WP9?p=preview
<select ng-model="class.team.leader" ng-options="student.name for student in curTeam.students track by student._id">
Currently, the plunkr correctly sets the default value. However, if you change it to use 'track by', like in the code above, it does not work.