REGULATING THE PROFESSION AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

Saskatchewan League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents (LEADS) is first and foremost a regulatory professional organization made up of individuals who possess specialized knowledge, academic preparation, appropriate credentialing and a demonstrated ability to engage in professional practice. LEADS has the legislative responsibility for licensing and regulating approximately 150 senior-level school division educational administrators in the public interest. These senior level educational administrators include Directors of Education, Superintendents of Education, Supervisors of Education and any other individual in a supervisory or administrative capacity who has an out-of-scope designation.

LEADS derives its authority from The League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents Act, 1991, whereby the Government of Saskatchewan has granted the profession the privilege and responsibility of self-regulation because professionals are in the best position to assess the qualifications, competence and conduct of those who practice those professions. LEADS is governed by an Executive Board, which consists of a President, a President-Elect, one representative elected from each geographic zone, and one member of the public appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

LEADS has a set of high admission standards for senior administrators to become licensed within the Province of Saskatchewan. These admission standards are required for full membership prior to the commencement of contractual employment. All LEADS members are required to complete ongoing professional development to ensure currency of professional practice. All LEADS members are required to comply with the Professional Code of Conduct (see the tab on the left).

As part of its regulatory obligations, LEADS is required to review, investigate and address allegations of professional incompetence and professional misconduct in accordance with The League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents Act, 1991.

Investigation and Discipline

Individuals registered and licensed with LEADS are required to conduct their practice competently and ethically.  A major responsibility of LEADS pursuant to its governing legislation is the obligation  to investigate allegations of professional incompetence and professional misconduct with respect to its members.

Individuals who believe that a senior educational administrator’s conduct constitutes professional incompetence or professional misconduct may make a complaint to LEADS. All complaints must relate to professional misconduct or professional incompetence as they are the only matters LEADS may investigate.  All complaints are managed through an intake, investigation and discipline process, as outlined in The League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents Act, 1991, whether brought forward by a complaint or by the LEADS organization. Typically, the process will include the receipt of a written complaint (including any necessary clarification thereof), a review of an alternative dispute resolution process, and a review by the Professional Relations Committee to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to lay a charge and recommend to the Discipline Committee that the matter proceed to a discipline hearing.

If the Professional Relations Committee refers the complaint to the Discipline Committee, then that Committee will hold a hearing regarding the complaint. The Discipline Committee will make a determination of the member’s guilt on the charges of professional incompetence or professional misconduct and will report its determination to the LEADS Executive.  The sanction (penalty) is thereafter determined by the Executive.

When the Professional Relations Committee or the Discipline Committee believes the individual under investigation may be guilty of a criminal offence, the Committee may discontinue its investigation or hearing (as the case may be) and shall report its findings to the President of LEADS and to the Deputy Minister of Justice.  

For more information on submitting a written complaint, see the tab on the left.