(AUSTIN, TEXAS) The Holdsworth Center, a leadership institute for Texas public schools founded by H-E-B CEO and Chairman Charles Butt, has named Dr. Pauline Dow vice president of the organization. Dow is the deputy superintendent for academics and school leadership for San Antonio ISD and brings more than 30 years of experience in public education to her new role.
“Dr. Dow brings extensive knowledge and experience working in school districts across the state,” said Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center. “These experiences, combined with her vision and commitment to Texas public schools, will deepen our capacity and enhance our impact as we continue to strive to be of service to Texas educators. We are thrilled that she is joining our team.”
“Holdsworth was founded on the belief that every child is entitled to a quality education made possible by outstanding principals and teachers who work tirelessly on their behalf,” said Board Chair Dr. Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University and former president of Smith College and Brown University. “Dr. Dow’s passion for the promise of public education, her notable track record and highly collaborative leadership style made her an ideal candidate to further advance our mission.”
Dow will support the center in partnering with school districts over a 5-year period to grow and develop their own pipeline of outstanding leaders. The center currently partners with 13 school districts across Texas that collectively educate a diverse population of 460,000 students and employ 60,000 staff members.
“The opportunity to impact districts across the state is very compelling to me,” said Dow. “I truly believe widespread, exceptional leadership in every district, campus and classroom will shape tomorrow’s leaders for the better. I am honored to join an organization that is helping education leaders build an environment where students and teachers thrive.”
Prior to joining San Antonio ISD in June 2017, Pauline served as chief instructional officer for North East ISD and as chief academic officer for Austin ISD. In each of these roles, she led broad stakeholder teams in developing a shared vision for excellent and equitable student results, and helped implement that vision across curriculum, instruction and assessment.
She spent 14 years of her career in West Texas as a bilingual teacher and central office administrator in Ysleta ISD and Canutillo ISD. Pauline is a former fellow of the Kellogg National Leadership Program, a multi-disciplinary experience that fosters a global perspective on human and social issues.
Headquartered in Austin, The Holdsworth Center offers world-class leadership development to school districts selected to participate through a generous multi-year investment. The Center is named after Charles Butt’s mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth, who taught in a rural Texas school and later was a dedicated philanthropist.
In November 2018, the Center broke ground on a 44-acre lakefront campus, which is scheduled to open in 2020 on the shores of Lake Austin and will serve as a permanent home for public school educators to learn, reflect and grow.
The Holdsworth Center
Founded by Charles Butt in January 2017, The Holdsworth Center partners with public school districts in efforts to cultivate a pipeline of dynamic and inspired leaders so that teachers thrive and students excel in every classroom. The Center makes a deep investment in participating districts, working with each for a five-year period and including both district and campus leaders. For more information, visit www.holdsworthcenter.org.
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