This leadership portrait using qualitative methods exposes one female superintendent's perception of practices and characteristics that led to her 23-year tenure in one district, exceeding the national average of 3.5 years. Leadership qualities and practices are explored and compared related to student success and superintendent responsibilities. This portrait explores gender differences and their possible impact on leadership and tenure of this superintendent. Portraits are framed by her life experiences, social constructs, roles, relationships, and perception of equity, and power. Organizational theory was used to present the complexities of organizational systems, roles, and interactions within. Leadership theory was examined as it relates to transformational, intentional, and relational leadership. Archival data and semi structured interviews were used. Themes included factors related to the leadership qualities of intentionality, reflective practice, building capacity, communication, relationships, and her perceived impact of gender on her role as superintendent. The study provided significance in two ways: a deeper understanding of portraiture methodology; perspective of a long-tenured female superintendent and elements of her practice that may have led to her successful twenty-three-year tenure. These elements include specific processes and procedures used during her tenure that she perceived to have had a positive impact on her successful long tenure. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]