Who is Ezra Bennington from The Water Is Wide and what is their importance?

Ezra Bennington is the elderly Deputy Superintendent of the Beaufort County school system. Ezra had been the superintendent of the entire district until the consolidation of all schools in the county and the appointment of Dr. Piedmont to the superintendent's position. Conroy writes, "Ezra Bennington was the perfect name for him. He had a finely chiseled, fashionably wrinkled face that suggested integrity and character. His blue eyes were liquid and innocent.