This program changed me in ways that I didn’t know I needed changing.”

Ray Borden

Principal, Arlington ISD

A photo of Ray Borden, a principal in Arlington ISD, laughing with a colleague during a Holdsworth Center Campus Leadership Program at the Campus on Lake Austin.
Principal Josh Leonard was photographed greeting a student with a fist bump on the campus of Blanton Elementary school in Arlington ISD.

Holdsworth Partnership

A multi-year investment to grow stronger leaders within districts and help superintendents and central office staff build their own best-in-class talent development systems.

Through our 2-year District Leadership and Campus Leadership Programs, we give teams of leaders the inspiration, tools and resources needed to grow their skills and drive positive change. Meanwhile, Holdsworth District Support Team members embed within central office to help create a bench of strong future leaders, with a focus on principals. Every time there is a principal opening, our goal is for districts to have at least two strong leaders ready to step into the role and make an impact for students from Day One.

Future cohorts

Texas school districts with more than 5,500 students are eligible for the Partnership, and applications open every two years. Ideal applicants can show eagerness to learn and a commitment to developing leaders within their district. If you are a district leader interested in joining a future cohort or receiving information about other learning opportunities, click the button below to express interest.

Express interest
A photo of Melissa Sestak and Quintin Shepherd of Victoria ISD during a Holdsworth Center District Leadership program session.

“Holdsworth is a game changer for kids because it empowers the adults to address problems head-on and make incredible gains for students.”

Michelle Nedd

Instructional Facilitator, Arlington ISD

Our approach

Our programs are designed with the belief that 70 percent of a leader’s development occurs through job-related experiences, 20 percent from interactions with others or coaching, and 10 percent from formal educational events. We strive to deliver learning experiences that span all three areas of a leader’s development. Working with teams allows us to bring a job-embedded component into every session we deliver.

Back in the district, our team of consultants works closely with district leaders to help them build best-in-class leadership development systems and create the right conditions for people to grow and flourish on every campus and in every classroom.

Partnership Components

01 | District Leadership Program

Often compared to the rigor of a graduate program, the 2-year District Leadership Program gives superintendents and their teams the opportunity to learn from some of the nation’s top leadership experts, receive intensive leadership training from our expert program team and study high-performing organizations in and outside the education sector. We also provide superintendents with executive coaches to reinforce on-the-job application of their learning and support them on crucial issues impacting their district.

Colin Curtin of The Holdsworth Center's District Support Team is photographed collaborating with leaders at The Campus on Lake Austin.



02 | District Support

Our team of consultants works closely with district leaders to help them build best-in-class talent development systems and create the right conditions for people to grow and flourish on every campus and in every classroom.

03 | Campus Leadership Program

In the Campus Leadership Program, principals plus a team of administrators, teachers or other campus leaders embark on a 2-year learning journey to become stronger leaders and create change by getting to the root cause of issues before generating solutions. Principals receive one year of executive coaching and campus teams use the tools they learn over the course of the program to identify and solve a tough problem on their campus that impacts student learning.

“I am a stronger leader and learner. I am even more driven than before. I feel valued and respected thanks to Holdsworth. Holdsworth made me feel like the professional I am.”

Jennifer Moy

Teacher, Round Rock ISD