Dr. Rachel S White
Eureka Projects
The Superintendent Lab
Job Title
Associate Professor
Research Interests

I examine issue of power and voice in K-12 education policy making and implementation processes, with a focus on public school district superintendents and school boards

Student Programs and Populations
Student research assistants
Students conducting independent research or a thesis
Any interested and motivated student, regardless of academic background
Students in the Freshman Research Initiative program
Students in the McNair Scholars program
Students in the Bridging Disciplines Programs
Students in the Discovery Scholars program
Students in the Presidential Scholars program
Students in the University Leadership Network
Affiliated Departments
College of Education
Educational Leadership and Policy
Unpaid opportunities
0hrs
Research activity interest
Question: Designing experiments
Selected option: N/A
Personal Pronouns
she/her
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Position Summary: Dr. Rachel S. White, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin and Founder of The Superintendent Lab. The lab seeks out curious, detail-oriented undergraduate student researchers to support research focused on collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data on K-12 public school district superintendents (e.g., turnover and stability, gender and racial disparities). The Lab offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful research, gain valuable skills, and contribute to academic and policy-oriented work. Key tasks at the lab include:

  • Data Collection: Gather comprehensive name, demographic data, and contact information for U.S. K-12 public school superintendents.
  • Data Management: Ensure accuracy and completeness of collected data, maintaining meticulous records and organizing information systematically. In some cases, may include development of more sophisticated, robust data collection and storage systems.
  • Research Support: Assist in analyzing collected data to identify trends and patterns related to superintendent gender and racial gaps, and labor market dynamics.
  • Research Communication: Help in the development of research and policy briefs, conference paper proposals, and contributions to journal articles or media publications.
  • Inquiries and Analysis: Pose research questions and engage in self-directed research using the dataset.
Where to learn more
The Superintendent lab

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

Before reaching out about your research interests, the Office of Undergraduate Research recommends you attend an info session or advising for tips on contacting faculty members.