The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Black/ African American women aspiring, serving, or having previously served in the role of Superintendent of Schools in the State of Texas. Additionally, the study investigated the perceived barriers and challenges that impacted the participant's ascent to the superintendency, and how the effects of gender, or race, or family structure, shaped the perceptions of Black/African American women pursuing the superintendency. The data were gathered by utilizing a phenomenological interview approach. The qualitative data provided by the participants were recorded on self-designed protocols to facilitate organization of the information. The ten subjects participating in the study were Black/African American Women selected from Education Service Centers in identified regions in the State of Texas. Five major research questions were established and analyzed by grouping like-responses from participants in tables and charts that reflected the data. Significant similarities occurred regarding the barriers and challenges faced by Black/African American Women and the effects of how the barriers and challenges influenced their perceptions of advancement or lack of advancement, to the superintendency position. The following major conclusions were drawn as they related to the findings of this study. In assessing the overall barriers and challenges Black/African American Women reported as lived experiences in pursuit of the superintendency, it was confirmed that a majority of the participants agreed gender, race and family were significant barriers and challenges faced in their pursuit of the superintendency. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]