HOUSTON -- Abelardo Saavedra knows there is a lot of work to be done in the nation's seventh-largest school district but told Houston Independent School District school board members, who appointed him superintendent Thursday, that he is up to the challenge.

"I look forward to great things for this school district," he said.

Saavedra, 53, follows Kaye Stripling, who retired in August, and Rod Paige, who left the district's helm to serve as U.S. education secretary. Paige was the district's first black superintendent. Saavedra is the district's first Hispanic leader.

The vote was unanimous.

"I think I offer a certain level of sensitivity to (the Hispanic) culture, to those issues," Saavedra said. "But quite frankly, the needs of this district are real for all kids, not just Hispanic kids. And I intend to be a superintendent for all kids."

The district's student population is 58 percent Hispanic, 32 percent black and 3 percent Asian. More than 70 languages are spoken within the district.

Members of the Hispanic community will hold Saavedra to a higher standard.

"Because he is Hispanic, because he is one of us, he should understand when we have the problems and he should understand that we should get these problems resolved as quickly as possible," said William Morris, with the Hispanic Policy Action Center. "Having someone that looks like you, speaks like you -- to some degree, eats the same things that you do -- but in doing that, you should understand my problem."

Paige recruited Saavedra four years ago to come to the Houston district, where he served as an area superintendent, deputy superintendent and since July as the district's interim superintendent.

Saavedra said his qualifications for the job include his experience on both the business and instructional side of education during his tenure with Corpus Christi Independent School District.

His contract calls for a base salary of $270,000 with $60,000 in bonuses based on academic performance. After two years, Saavedra's performance will be reviewed and the three-year contract can be extended to a fourth or fifth year.

After growing up in Corpus Christi, Saavedra went to college in Kingsville and later moved to Michigan, where he received his doctorate in school administration. He then returned to his hometown, where he became a principal by the time he was 28, an administrator by 33 and Corpus Christi's first Hispanic superintendent at 40.

Saavedra worked as the district's superintendent for seven years before he said he was forced to leave because the fallout from an investigation into his expense reports caused him to become ineffective in the role.

The investigation led to criminal charges against Saavedra, including felony tampering with a governmental record for falsely labeling two credit card receipts as meals in 1999 when he purchased alcoholic beverages.

He also was indicted on three misdemeanors involving services performed on his wife's vehicle.

A jury cleared Saavedra of the felony charge and the misdemeanor charges were later dropped.

Saavedra said he made a mistake by not paying close enough attention to details and has since concentrated on moving forward and not looking back.

He hopes to restore the public's confidence in the Houston district, which has faltered since questions were raised over its dropout and crime statistic reporting and academic achievement in recent years. He says he'll provide the necessary leadership to resolve those and other issues.

Mistakes were made in data reporting within the Houston district, but Saavedra says it came down to a lack of attention to detail as opposed to an effort to present an altered picture of the state's largest district.

He also would like to make sure more students within the diverse district are prepared for college and to improve achievement scores and graduation rates.

As interim superintendent, Saavedra was credited with leading an effort to convince dropouts to return to school, hiring 10 dropout prevention specialists, requiring graduation plans for each high school student and expanding the district's elementary school science program.

"You have proven yourself in the last few months to be brave, bold and willing to do what is necessary for the children of this district, despite all kinds of challenges," school board member Harvin Moore told Saavedra. "During that period, you have been very impressive."