Texas School Board Institute

The Texas School Board Institute is a three-day leadership experience for superintendents and their trustees at The Holdsworth Center’s Campus on Lake Austin. Together, you’ll strengthen your governance skills and your ability to drive positive change for students in your district.

The Institute is built around the Transformational Governance Framework, a blueprint that helps trustees deeply understand and make the most of their governance role. The agenda also leaves room for networking, reflection and time for board members and superintendents to work side by side to apply the learning to their district contexts. Participants leave knowing exactly what it means to model strong governance in public schools.

The Institute is designed for superintendents and trustees in Texas public school districts with 2,500 or more students. Each district may register the superintendent and up to three board members, for a total of four people.

Superintendents register and will reserve the number of board members they intend to bring (up to 3 board members). We will follow-up with the Superintendent prior to the Institute to complete the board member registration.

The Institute is offered twice a year, once in late winter and once in summer. Space is limited to 80 participants, and spots are filled first-come, first-served, so we recommend registering early.

If registration isn’t currently open and you’d like to express interest in attending, fill out this short interest form. Those who sign up will be notified when registration opens.

The cost of the Institute is $500 per person, which covers lodging, meals and all learning materials. Travel to and from the Campus is not included.

Yes. Superintendents attend for the full institute. That shared experience is what builds the alignment and trust between a superintendent and their board.

Let us know at registration that you’re expecting newly elected trustees. You can reserve spots for the superintendent and three board members. We’ll reach out to gather names of your trustees after the election.

We leave that to the judgment of the superintendent and their board. The content is most useful for trustees who are newer to the role, but every district’s context is different. For more information or guidance on this, we recommend reaching out to Executive Superintendent-in-Residence Dr. Marcelo Cavazos.

When H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt founded The Holdsworth Center in 2017, he envisioned a space that would reflect the importance of Texas educators and the work they do. The Campus on Lake Austin is the result: a one-of-a-kind place dedicated to the idea that public education holds worth. With indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, a dock classroom, fitness center, social hub and guest lodging, it’s a serene setting where leaders can step back from the day-to-day to learn, reflect and build strong bonds.

Yes. All participants stay on the Campus for the entirety of the Institute, which protects the learning environment and gives teams uninterrupted time together. Lodging, meals and access to all amenities are included in the registration fee.