ABSTRACT
This chapter illuminates certain aspects of Canadian distinctiveness by examining the role, highlights some of the key features of its evolution, and focuses briefly on its future development. The evolution of the role of Canadian school Superintendent has been influenced by the country's history and geography, its political and social nature, and its attitude toward itself. Many school superintendents thus face interreligious, interlinguistic, and interracial conflicts and discrimination that are insoluble through education alone, hence requiring them to work closely with leaders of other community services, the legal profession, business and industry. The contextual influence of the country's nature on the development of the school superintendency has been supplemented by responses to certain tensions that have contributed more directly to the professional evolution of this role. Despite the importance of trustees and community leaders, teachers and principals, parents and students, politicians and civil servants, it is the school Superintendent who is the leading professional educator in this country.
