My name is Rafael Iniguez, and since late 2022, I have had the privilege of serving as the Superintendent of Parlier Unified School District. Since 2011, I have enjoyed being a devoted employee of Parlier Unified School District. Growing up in Parlier as the child of migrant farm workers, I experienced firsthand the transformative power of education. In 2002, I graduated as valedictorian of Parlier High School. At the age of 17, I embraced a life-changing opportunity—a full ride scholarship to join the 250th graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I relied on family, social, and spiritual capital to graduate with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and returned home to pursue further education. My academic journey continued at Fresno State University, where I earned a master's degree in 2008 and, in May 2022, became the first in my family to earn a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership. My dissertation, Community Cultural Wealth and the Inspirational Narratives of First Generation Elite University Mexican American Students, was published in August of 2022. As a first-generation college graduate, I understand my role in inspiring and empowering the most vulnerable members of our society to pursue higher education and career technical education. Now, as Superintendent, I am committed to serving our school board, students, parents, guardians, teachers, employees, and administrators. Together, we aim to expand opportunities and achieve great things for the community of Parlier, pushing to take things to the Next Level while Inspiring Dreams.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rafael Iniguez