Drawing upon Franquiz & Salazar's (2004) humanizing pedagogy, this qualitative case study explored the perspectives of 22 school and community leaders in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Focus group narratives revealed that school teachers, administrators, and community leaders emphasized a culturally responsive approach to overcoming obstacles and promoting college readiness in this region. In addition, these stakeholders highlighted the importance of collaborative and asset-based strategies in promoting college readiness. To them, college readiness should include strong relationships among schools, families, and community leaders, and it should extend beyond traditional academic preparation in the classroom.