Who is Dr. Henry Piedmont from The Water Is Wide and what is their importance?

Dr. Henry Piedmont is the Superintendent of Schools for the Beaufort, South Carolina, school district, having been in the position for only one year. Dr. Piedmont is a native Southerner raised by God-fearing people who worked in a mill. Dr. Piedmont himself worked in the mill before and after college until he receives a message from God telling Dr. Piedmont to get an advanced degree so he can leave the mill and help more people. Dr. Piedmont is a very religious man who believes Jesus sent Pat as an answer to many prayers about t finding a teacher for the children on Yamacraw island. At the beginning of the story, Dr. Piedmont praises Pat for being full of energy and new ideas, just as Piedmont was at Pat's age.