About Holdsworth

Our mission is to impact, over time, the quality of PreK-12 public education for all Texas students by supporting and developing educational leaders.

Founding & History

Charles Butt, Chairman of H-E-B, founded The Holdsworth Center in 2017. He named the nonprofit organization for his mother, a former schoolteacher and lifelong advocate for justice.

As a young woman in the 1920s, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth became a schoolteacher in Kerrville and Center Point in the Hill Country.

Inspired by his mother, Charles has directed much of his personal and corporate giving toward public education, developing initiatives such as the annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. The Holdsworth Center builds on those efforts by strengthening the leaders who serve educators and students.

Mary Elizabeth Holdworth and her students.

Young students on a playground at school.

Why Leadership?

01 Ask any educator and you’re likely to hear their work is the toughest it’s ever been. Schools lack resources and it’s hard to find and keep great leaders and teachers. As a result, too many students are missing out on a great education.

02 There are no shortcuts for sustainable improvement in public education. That’s why we make long-term investments in districts and our leadership programs are intensive. Executive coaching – common in many sectors, but rare in education – is a hallmark of our approach.

03 Our founder, Charles Butt, gave us a strong start. Now we need a wider base of financial support to innovate and scale our programs to meet the huge need for great educational leaders across Texas.

Students high five a teacher as they walk into school.

Why Support Holdsworth?

“We’ve done a lot of things to try to improve public education in this country over the last 40 years. But I would argue that we have never dedicated ourselves to the work of strengthening the people in our public schools.”

Dr. Lindsay Whorton / President, The Holdsworth Center

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What our supporters are saying

Foundations, businesses, coalitions and individuals are joining us in the work of building stronger leaders and teams for public schools. Meet our supporters and explore how you can get involved.

Our Supporters

Great leadership is critical for any successful organization. School districts are no different.

Dr. Robert M. Gates

U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006-11)
Director of Central Intelligence (1991-93)
Holdsworth Board Chair

Education is the strength behind our economy, our national security and our democracy, and that system rises and falls with leadership. It’s not just Mr. Butt who has a vision for a stronger education system in Texas – we all want that.

Angela Herron

Holdsworth Alumni and Donor

For education to succeed in its mission, it’s critical to have the right leadership in place. Failing in this mission is not an option for our society or economy.

Phyllis Parmer

Holdsworth Donor