The researcher/writer of this treatise has used qualitatively based data to develop a better understanding of the perceptions of college readiness initiatives in three public school districts in the service area of a community college in South Texas. The researcher has also used these methods to understand the perceptions of participants in a community based parental outreach program about the subject of college readiness. More specifically, through the use interviews with public school district superintendents, focus groups with educational professionals in the corresponding school districts, and similar focus group interviews with the parent/facilitators in the outreach group; critical issues, incidents, and events have been identified to improve and better inform the processes of college readiness initiatives for the college. The end product of this treatise will help both the researcher/practitioner and the leadership of the college improve their educational service to the community, and add new voices to the character of this service. The researcher as an outsider to the language and culture of the region, has also reflected on his positionality and professional growth within this community through these processes. / text

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This study examined whether or not it is in the financial best interest of public school districts, as employers, to promote the health of its employees.

This study was conducted to determine what the relationship is between the employee compensation/benefit programs in Texas public school districts and the basic values and beliefs that are important to the success of the districts.

The job of the local school superintendent is one of the most difficult chief executive undertakings in America today. Of the nation’s roughly 14,000 traditional public school superintendents, a mere 1,984 are women, according to the U. S. Department of Education. Yet, nationally over 75% of all K-12 educators are women. The purpose of this explorative quantitative study is to analyze the demographic profiles of public school districts in four of the nation’s largest states – California, Michigan, New York, and Texas - to see if there is a pattern of district types and sizes that women lead. Then the study will compare those districts that women lead to those that men lead. The districts were identified using the following variables: locale of districts, the size of the districts, diversity of student population, and poverty level. Looking through the lens of Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory, this study sought to show that resources and institutions are reproduced, or passed on, to those sharing similar social capital. Chi-square with cross-tabulations was conducted to determine if certain district characteristics would allow one to infer the gender of the superintendent leading that district. Additionally, a binominal logistic regression was used to see if there was a relationship between the district types and the gender of the superintendent. The results of the study identified that there was no relationship between the locales of the districts and the gender of the superintendents, but female superintendents were more prevalent in smaller districts with high diversity and high poverty.