Holdsworth Alumni: Driving Change Across Texas Schools

The 2025 Holdsworth Alumni Survey tells a powerful story of leadership growth and impact. With 518 alumni from 92 districts responding (a 31% response rate), the results affirm what we’ve always believed: Holdsworth leaders are transforming education across Texas.

What we heard:

Stronger Leaders, Bigger Impact

99.8% of alumni agree they are stronger leaders because of Holdsworth. Many described the experience as “life-changing,” citing growth in:

• Strategic leadership and systems thinking 
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness 
• Transitioning from task management to developing people 

One alum shared: “Holdsworth gave me the confidence and tools to lead change that impacts kids every day.”

Career Advancement

Alumni are moving up and making waves: 

• Teachers becoming Assistant Principals 
• Assistant Principals becoming Principals  
• Principals stepping into Senior District Leader roles in districts like Garland ISD, Aldine ISD, and Lamar CISD 

Over 10% of respondents reported a promotion since completing Holdsworth programs.

Tools in Action

Alumni are embedding Holdsworth frameworks into daily practice:

• PDSA cycles for continuous improvement
• Empathy interviews to understand student perspectives
• Fishbone diagrams for root cause analysis
• Strategic calendaring and SMART goal setting

Impact on Schools and Students

From Lockhart ISD earning an A rating through shared leadership to Garland ISD’s 13-point gain in Emergent Bilingual STAAR scores, alumni are delivering measurable results:

• Soto Elementary improved STAAR scores from 69 to 77 over two years
• Poteet High School reduced discipline referrals by over 60% and eliminated fighting incidents in the first eight weeks of school

Celebrating Success

Alumni are being recognized statewide: 

• Toni Scott in Lamar CISD now holds a principal of the year recognition for her elementary and secondary service.
• Lucy Serna honored as Arlington ISD Assistant Principal of the Year
• Joette Barnes promoted to Chief Instructional Officer in East Central ISD helped all elementary campuses make academic gains including 3 moving to A rating.
• Klein ISD recognized as #1 education employer by Forbes
• Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, Lamar CISD names TASB Superintendent of the Year

Challenges Ahead

While progress is clear, alumni identified several ongoing challenges:

• Elevating teacher leadership and voice
• Addressing academic needs of underperforming students
• Staff retention and burnout
• Leading during tumultuous times

We will use these recommendations to focus on future content and programming.

The Ripple Effect

Alumni aren’t just leading—they’re sharing. Over 70 alumni presented at major conferences like AASA, SXSW EDU, and TEPSA, amplifying Holdsworth’s impact beyond Texas. 

Stay up to date at our new Holdsworth alumni website!