The Holdsworth Center

06/15/2026

Shout out to Dr. Angel Rivera - Superintendent of Mesquite ISD and Holdsworth Alum - for being named Region 10 Education Service Center Superintendent of the Year! He consistently brings a strong dedication to serving students and leadership that empowers others to achieve great things. Congratulations on this well deserved honor! 🏆
Read the full announcement:

Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC) is proud to announce that Dr. Ángel Rivera, superintendent...

06/11/2026

🎉Congratulations to two Holdsworth Alumni in the newest Google & GSV Ed Leader Fellowship!
Dr. Malinda Golden, Superintendent in Belton ISD
Dr. Adrian Bustillos, Chief Transformation Officer in Aldine ISD

GSV is joining forces with Google for Education for the second year of our Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship. The Fellowship champions K-12 superintendents and top-level instructional leaders dedicated to using technology as a lever for innovation and impact.

06/10/2026

📢 Attention Holdsworth Alumni!!

The annual giving campaign begins today! Our goal is to gather and grow our alumni community to raise $10,000 to support a school through our campus leadership program. Donate $30+ to receive a limited access gift created just for you 🧺 🍉 😎

Give today: https://bit.ly/4oc0inm

06/09/2026

Hey Principals, are you attending the TEPSA Summer Conference this week? Join us for our session - If Only There Were a Manual: Creating User Guides for Leadership Success - Wed 6/10 at 8am. Bookmark it in the conference app and we'll see you there!

06/09/2026

Most leadership programs send you off to grow on your own. The Holdsworth Center's Aspiring Superintendent Accelerator is built differently.
Dr. Michael Houston, Deputy Superintendent at Channelview ISD, says it plainly: having a superintendent who is open to sharing is vital to the program. Not optional. Vital.
That's the model: Superintendents don't just nominate their next leaders, they show up alongside them. Sharing experiences, building trust, and doing the hard work of preparation together.
This is what pouring into the next generation actually looks like.
Interested in the Aspiring Superintendent Accelerator?
If you're a deputy or cabinet-level leader with your sights on the superintendency — or a superintendent ready to invest in who comes next — let us know you're interested.
Join our free informational webinar June 24 at 10am: https://forms.holdsworthcenter.org/w/accelerator-webinar

06/08/2026

🎉Congratulations to Corpus Christi Independent School District Superintendent and Holdsworth alum, Dr. Roland Hernandez, for being named Education Service Center, Region 2 Superintendent of the Year!!

Through his dedicated work developing leaders across CCISD, Dr. Hernandez has cultivated a district-wide culture of leadership that has directly driven outstanding student gains.

Read about this prestigious award 🏆https://bit.ly/4etHdcJ.

Education Service Center, Region 2 is proud to announce Dr. Roland Hernandez as the Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Hernandez has demonstrated outstanding leadership, vision, and dedication to the students, staff, and families he serves. His commitment to educational excellence and his continued sup...

06/05/2026

How did Ireland quietly build one of the highest-performing education systems in the world?

A recent case study by the National Center on Education and the Economy reveals their secret: they stayed the course on what matters most.

While many systems chase quick fixes, Ireland focused on long-term policy stability, rigorous teacher development, and an unwavering commitment to student success.

But building a system like this doesn't happen by accident. It requires systemic leadership. True leadership in education means:
-Resisting distractions to focus on deep, sustained learning.
-Supporting teachers with the resources and trust they need to thrive.
-Creating a culture that balances academic rigor with student well-being.

At Holdsworth, we know that outstanding schools start with outstanding leaders. Ireland is living proof that when leaders commit to a clear, long-term vision, entire communities flourish.

🔗 Read the full NCEE case study to see what we can learn from Ireland's journey.
https://ncee.org/ireland-education-system/

Read the Report Over more than two decades of international standardized assessments, Ireland has shown consistently high results in both student achievement and equity. Ireland has gained recognition as a world leader across academic subjects but particularly in literacy, where it scores at the top...

06/04/2026

👏 Behind every strong superintendent or principal is a powerful leadership team.
K-12 Dive wants to celebrate the assistant principals and district leaders driving achievement, innovation, and positive culture in our schools.
Help recognize a rising leader in your district—nominations for the 2026–27 Rising Leaders cohort are open now through June 8.
➡️ Learn more and submit: https://bit.ly/4sxDi2o

Tell us about the standout assistant principals and district administrators who are fueling achievement, positive culture and innovation in your schools.

06/03/2026

What does it look like when a superintendent truly invests in the next generation of leaders?

Channelview Superintendent, Dr. Tory Hill didn’t just nominate Dr. Michael Houston, for Holdsworth’s Aspiring Superintendent Accelerator. He showed up alongside him—committing time, access, and expertise to preparing the next generation of superintendents.

Read their story.

Dr. Tory Hill knows the superintendency asks things of leaders they can’t fully see until they’re in the seat. Through Holdsworth’s Aspiring Superintendent Accelerator, he is helping Michael Houston understand those demands early — turning mentorship into a deeper, more intentional preparati...

06/02/2026

Great leaders don't happen by accident — they're developed with intention.

The Holdsworth Center's Aspiring Superintendent Accelerator will start accepting nominations for the next cohort, opening July 13. This 12-month program pairs aspiring superintendents with executive coaching, real superintendent-level projects in their own district, and immersive learning — all designed to build the skills and confidence new superintendents need to lead from day one.

Interested in learning more? Join us June 24 at 10am for an informational webinar. https://forms.holdsworthcenter.org/w/accelerator-webinar