This cross-national symposium focuses on superintendents from three countries (Sweden, Finland, and the United States) for the purposes of: a)  understanding what knowledge they believe is essential for successfully leading schools that serve diverse populations of students in increasingly politicized and contentious circumstances, and b) examining the structures and policy contexts that shape the leadership policies, beliefs,  and practices of these superintendents.  Although they work in very different national contexts, all of these superintendents share the challenges associated with responding to the needs of an increasingly diverse student population which includes newly-arrived refugees and asylum seekers as well as native-born students.  Within all three contexts, superintendents play a key role in the educational system of each country with respect to the ability of schools to promote equity and excellence.