A survey of school district superintendents sought to gather data on a number of characteristics and compare the data with earlier surveys. From a random sample of 2,342 superintendents, stratified by district size, the researchers received 1,339 responses. The variables covered included superintendent age, sex, ethnic group, political affiliation, career history and experiences, discrimination problems, recruitment, mentors or networks, professional memberships, superintendency stress and self-fulfillment, rating of educational administration programs, and perceptions of status, standard of living, school boards' information sources, and participation by students, parents, and the community. Also covered were districts' urban or rural location, geographic region, staffing, and strikes. Part 1 of the report presents a profile of superintendents, using 29 tables and discussions of each topic area. Part 2 analyzes six themes revealed in the data, including the demanding nature of the superintendency, improved managerial and leadership capacities, board-superintendent tensions, movement away from equity concerns, financial crises, and accountability. Part 3 contrasts superintendents from districts of different sizes, women with men superintendents, and superintendents from intermediate units with all others, and compares the 1982 results with data from earlier surveys of superintendents in 1923, 1933, 1951, 1960, and 1971. (RW)