Attitudes of four groups of professional educators are compared respecting the role of the superintendent in collective negotiations. The AFT sees him as head of the opposition's negotiating team. The NEA sees him as a member of the professional staff and as a neutral catalyst providing resource information while teacher representatives negotiate with a board committee. The AASA sees him in the dual role of chief executive and staff member, but also as an independent third party playing a significant role in the negotiation process. The NSBA sees him as the agent of the board and as a channel and interpreter of staff problems. Unresolved aspects of the superintendent's role include applying the separation-of-power principle to school board organization and joint decision making by the superintendent and the school board. (Authors/JK)