55 district leaders graduate from Holdsworth

This month we celebrated the graduation of 55 school district leaders from two Holdsworth programs. Each of these leaders emerged stronger, more effective and ready to help Texas deliver on the promise of a high-quality education for every single child.

As part of the multi-year Holdsworth Partnership, 41 superintendents and district leaders graduated from the 2-year District Leadership Program, including leaders from Corpus Christi, Duncanville, El Paso, Lubbock, Seguin and Texas City ISDs, as well as Los Fresnos CISD.

“This partnership goes well beyond leadership development,” said Diana Sayavedra, Superintendent of El Paso ISD, in a video they produced about their partnership with Holdsworth. “It’s really about building a system where every educator, every principal and every staff member is equipped with the tools and mindset needed to elevate our schools and unlock the potential of every student.”

Additionally, we cheered the first 14 graduates of Holdsworth’s new Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Program, a first-of-its-kind program designed to help leaders gain mastery of the skills and behaviors needed to be an exceptional superintendent from day one. Leaders apply new skills immediately through special projects created in partnership with their superintendent.

Learning focuses on communication, board relations and other skills that have taken on greater importance in recent years. By design, leaders apply what they are learning on the job, sharing the results with their coach and getting advice on how to hone their approach and reach mastery.

There are few opportunities to “practice” the role before taking the seat, said Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Holdsworth’s Executive Superintendent-in-Residence. Cavazos recently retired from Arlington ISD, where he served as superintendent for 11 years.

“There’s nothing like this program in the field,” Cavazos said. “It’s like a medical residency for superintendents. We put them in as many real-life or simulated scenarios as possible to get them ready for a challenging, high-stakes job. It’s one thing to watch your superintendent run a board meeting, quite another when you’re the one in the hot seat answering tough questions.”

Terrence Sanders, Deputy Superintendent at San Marcos CISD, described his evolution over the course of the program in football terms.

“When you come into the game as a quarterback, it feels like things are moving fast. Your eyes are big trying to take in everything that’s going on. But as you gain experience, things start to slow down. You’re able to make the right decision because you don’t feel so rushed.

“Where I’ve had tremendous growth over the past 15 months is going from being a doer to a thinker. Although we must operate with a sense of urgency, we can’t move fast on everything. There are times I need to step back, be more strategic and think through the implications.”

Sanders described the simulations as “getting comfortable being uncomfortable.” In one session, the aspiring superintendents practiced storytelling. Initially, Sanders was skeptical. Then he found himself collecting good anecdotes and trying them out during meetings and speaking engagements.

“I’ve watched great superintendents who have always have a story to draw you in. Now I have the ability to do that too,” Sanders said. “It’s no longer a simulation – it’s real life.”

In 2021, Holdsworth launched the Superintendent Leadership Program to support superintendents as they navigate unprecedented challenges at a critical point in their career. Since 2017, the organization has partnered with nearly 100 superintendents across its various leadership offerings, and at least 20 Holdsworth-trained district leaders have become first-time superintendents.

“Having strong, resilient superintendents at the helm of all Texas districts is critical to improving outcomes for students in the face of great headwinds battering public education,” said Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center. “That’s going to require big investments in identifying and developing future superintendents and supporting new superintendents in their first few years in the role. We believe Holdsworth is uniquely positioned to make those key investments with the help of our funding partners.”

The Powell Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, H-E-B and the William Knox Holt Foundation have all provided support for the Center’s new superintendent pipeline efforts.

2025 Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Graduates include:

• Dr. Jason Adams (Chief Academic Officer, Garland ISD)
• Dr. Lisa Adams (Deputy Superintendent of Academics & School Leadership, Temple ISD)
• Dr. Adrian Bustillos (Chief Transformation Officer, Aldine ISD)
• Dr. Stephaine Camarillo (Deputy Superintendent, Lockhart ISD)
• Ivan Cantu (Chief Strategy Officer, Plano ISD)
• Dr. Deena Cornblum (Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Waco ISD)
• Dr. Janine Fields (Deputy Superintendent, Mesquite ISD)
• Dr. Selenda Freeman (Deputy Superintendent for Leadership & Operations, Plano ISD)
• Dr. Josie Gutierrez (Chief of Strategy, Uvalde CISD)
• Shane McKay (Executive Director of Student & Community Engagement, East Central ISD)
• Dr. Ida Perales (Chief Leadership Officer, Garland ISD)
• Dr. Terrence Sanders (Deputy Superintendent, San Marcos CISD)
• Dr. Javier Villareal (Chief of Schools, Aldine ISD)
• Dr. Tracie Washington (Deputy Superintendent of Leading & Learning, Terrell ISD)

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