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May 20, 2026
“I am at this wonderful retreat, taking time for myself to unplug, recharge and relax. I didn’t realize I needed it until I got here,” said Amari Shields, a teacher at Aragon Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. “I haven’t done it in a really long time.”
The retreat is designed to give Texas public school teachers an opportunity to step away from the demands of daily school life. It blends relaxation, connection and tailored learning experiences so teachers feel nurtured and valued for their important work.
For Shields, it was much more than just a relaxing weekend.
“All the details that have gone into this have really made me feel valued as an educator, that what I am doing is important,” Shields said.
Data show the impact lasts long after the retreat. Six months afterwards, 93 percent of attendees reported on a survey that the retreat has helped them better manage stress; 80 percent said they’ve seen improvements in their work-life balance and have higher job satisfaction.
“I tend to find reasons to not take off work and find it harder to go on vacation during the school year,” said Kendall Hollas, a teacher at Conroe High School in Conroe ISD. “Having this opportunity presented to me with zero need for me to organize has been really, really great.”
Holdsworth retreats include individual accommodations, meals prepared by the culinary team and a flexible schedule that may include activities such as chair massages, nature walks, group exercise classes, art workshops and well-being sessions.
Victoria Pringle, a teacher at Walker Station Elementary in Fort Bend ISD, described the retreat as “the best weekend of my life.”
“The positive vibes that are flowing, the care that is given to teachers and everything that is done between the food, the accommodations, the scheduling—it’s just been amazing,” she said. “I felt like a celebrity.”
That sense of being seen began before teachers ever arrived. Many said the nomination itself was meaningful.
Shields said teachers are used to nominating students for awards and opportunities, but there are fewer moments when teachers are nominated for something special.
“I felt honored and humbled that somebody would think of me and want to include me in something as special as this,” she said.
For some, the weekend also rekindled a sense of purpose.
Eun Sung Kim, a teacher at Carter Academy in Aldine ISD, said being at Holdsworth and learning about the leaders supported through its programs helped her “dream again” about her own path in education.
That connection among teachers was one of the strongest themes of the weekend.
Marlesa Morton, a teacher at Randle Elementary in Lamar CISD, called Holdsworth “one of the most magical places on earth that is supporting our Texas teachers.”
Her favorite part was simple: “Getting to collaborate with other teachers and share stories and learn and just that exchange of conversation.”
Beginning this year, even more Texas teachers will have the opportunity to experience a Holdsworth retreat.
Holdsworth is adding two more retreats each year and opening nominations to educators statewide. Previously, nominations focused on teachers in select regions. Soon, anyone may nominate a deserving Texas public school teacher at any time, with nominations accepted year-round.
The expansion reflects Holdsworth’s belief that all teachers deserve to feel seen, celebrated and cared for—not just during Teacher Appreciation Week, but throughout the year.
“Every teacher works so hard,” said Melissa Waldrum, a chemistry teacher at the Academy for Science and Health Professions in Conroe ISD. “They deserve to be treated like a king or a queen or royalty, which is what is happening here.”
For Holdsworth, that’s the point: to remind teachers that public education holds worth—and so do they.
The Holdsworth Teacher Retreat is offered at no cost to teachers aside from travel to the campus thanks to the generosity of Holdsworth Annual Sponsors: