The Holdsworth Center

Excellence in Education Leadership

2026 Leadership Launch: A week of free virtual learning

Leadership Launch Webinar 2026 graphic cover image

January 12, 2026

Access recordings from three high-impact learning sessions designed for public education leaders. Whether you’re building stronger teams, leading change on campus, or preparing for a future role, these sessions offer practical insights to help you lead with clarity and confidence.

Sign up to access the recordings

If Only There Were a Manual: User Guides for Leader Success

What if every leader came with a user manual? In this session, explore how creating personal “user manuals” can accelerate trust, improve communication, and strengthen team dynamics. Learn how principals and leadership teams are using this simple yet powerful tool to clarify working styles, understand expectations, and share core values. Walk away with your own draft and a plan to implement this practice with your team back at school.

Featuring:

  • Adrienne Williams (The Holdsworth Center)

Deep Dive | Campus Story of Success: Brashear Elementary, Dallas ISD

At Jimmie T. Brashear Elementary in Dallas ISD, a powerful shift began when educators in The Holdsworth Center’s Campus Leadership Program identified a key challenge: English learners were struggling with vocabulary and it was holding back their learning. By focusing on a small test group, piloting a student-centered strategy and empowering one teacher to spread her knowledge to others, the campus saw remarkable gains: Vocabulary performance in the top tier of MAP nearly doubled in the test group, leading to an 88 in overall achievement in state ratings.

Featuring:

  • Sonja Barnes (Principal, Brashear Elementary)
  • Keylah Pineda (Teacher, Brashear Elementary)
  • Jeanine Hill (Assistant Principal, Brashear Elementary)
  • Sharon Foley (The Holdsworth Center)

Your Path to the Superintendency: Shifting from ‘Chief Doer’ to ‘Chief Thinker’

What if the biggest challenge of becoming a superintendent isn’t what you do—but how you think? In this session, explore a critical shift in professional identity as leaders move from executing work to thinking deeply, strategically, and reflectively. Based on the article Beyond Impossible, this webinar offers a roadmap for aspiring superintendents to embrace long-term visioning and enterprise-level leadership with clarity and confidence.

Featuring:

  • Sara Bonser (Retired Superintendent, Plano ISD & Holdsworth Superintendent-in-Residence)
  • Dr. Tory Hill (Superintendent, Channelview ISD)
  • Dr. Stacy Frenchwood (The Holdsworth Center)