• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

The Holdsworth Center

Excellence in Education Leadership

  • About
    • Our Story
    • Our People
    • Campus
    • Careers
  • Our Work
    • Programs
    • Holdsworth Partnership
    • Leadership Collaborative
    • Superintendent Leadership Program
  • Impact
  • Blog
  • Click here to search this site
  • Login to the Holdsworth Hub
  • Donate Your generosity will help us support insipring leaders who create schools where teachers thrive and students excel
  • Sign up for Holdsworth updates, learning resources and inspiration
Impact

Video: Laser focus on literacy gets big results

By The Holdsworth Center|March 21, 2022
Share
Tweet0Facebook0LinkedIn0

After digging into data, leaders at Ellis Elementary in Arlington ISD realized less than one-third of their students were reading on grade level. Through The Holdsworth Center’s Campus Leadership Program, the leadership team learned new ways to break down and solve any problem that stood in the way of their vision for Ellis students.

“Literacy is probably the biggest challenge that all schools are facing, especially in a pandemic. The data was undeniable and could not be ignored,” said Keith Boyd, Ellis principal.

The gains we have made in just one year are tremendous.

By inspiring teachers to shift their mindsets and collaborating with them on best practices and lesson planning, Ellis was able to make significant progress in reading despite the challenges caused by the pandemic.

From 2020 to 2021, the percentage of Black and Hispanic students in grades 1-3 reading on grade level rose from 31 to 58 percent.

A graph showing the percentage of Black and Hispanic students in grades 1-3 reading on grade level rose from 31 to 58 percent from 2020 to 2021.

“The gains we have made in just one year are tremendous,” Boyd said. “We know we’ve got the right solution. We just need to keep pushing.”

“Student perceptions changed about reading. It was working – parents saw it, teachers saw it, leaders saw it,” said Michelle Need, an instructional coach. “Holdsworth is a game changer for kids because it empowers the adults to address problems head-on and make incredible gains for students.”

|


Learn more about our impact

Read our impact report Visit this page to read the full Impact Report
Recommended articles
Patty Willis, principal of Garcia-Leza Primary in Aldine ISD.
Impact
Teachers and leaders join forces to boost student reading skills
By The Holdsworth Center

In Aldine ISD, a Holdsworth leadership program gives a principal and her team the tools they needed to make major gains for students.

Read more
A photo of Kathy Rollo.
Impact
Superintendents need support for a high-stakes role
By The Holdsworth Center

In Lubbock, a superintendent navigates challenges to do right by kids.

Read more
A school campus garden with a butterfly pictured against the sky.
Impact
Growing teachers into principals
By The Holdsworth Center

Through its work with Holdsworth, Waco ISD is transforming its systems to build their own pipeline of strong, ready leaders.

Read more

Notice of nondiscrimination policy

The Holdsworth Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its admission policies or professional development programs.

  • Email sign-up for Holdsworth updates, learning resources and inspiration
  • Donate
  • Blog
  • Campus on Lake Austin
  • Join our team
  • Contact
  • Media resources
  • Privacy policy
© Copyright  The Holdsworth Center