Seguin ISD selected for multi-year Holdsworth Center Partnership to build stronger principals for the benefit of teachers, students
SEGUIN, Texas (May 16, 2023) – The Holdsworth Center, an Austin-based nonprofit focused on leadership in public education, has selected Seguin ISD to join the Holdsworth Partnership, a multi-year investment to build stronger principals and help the district create its own best-in-class principal pipeline system.
Seguin ISD is one of seven districts across the state selected to participate in Holdsworth’s world-class leadership development programs.
“This is a special honor. Not only to be chosen but to have an opportunity to hone leadership and service values in our campus administrators,” said Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, Seguin ISD superintendent.
As part of the partnership, Seguin ISD leaders will participate in the 2-year district leadership and campus leadership programs to receive the inspiration, tools and resources needed to grow their skills and drive positive change.
“Seguin ISD demonstrated a strong commitment to developing leaders and a growth mindset around learning new concepts,” said Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center. “The goal is to help the expert educators in Seguin ISD become skilled, visionary district and school leaders who can provide the support teachers and students need to thrive. Great leaders draw out the best in people and inspire them to achieve the unimaginable. Leadership is not a skill people are born with – it can be taught and honed through day-to-day practice.”
In the programs, superintendents, central office administrators, principals, assistant principals, teachers and other campus leaders engage with some of the nation's top experts in their fields from a variety of sectors, including K-12 education, academia, government and business.
Learning sessions are held on the campus on Lake Austin, a retreat-like setting that allows teams to step back from the day-to-day and see their district or school’s challenges and opportunities more clearly.
In addition, Holdsworth District Support Team members will embed within district administration to help create a bench of strong principals. Every time there is a principal opening, the goal is for Seguin ISD to have at least two strong leaders ready to step into the role and make an impact for students from day one.
Research shows that effective principals can significantly impact student outcomes by creating the conditions for teachers to thrive. Because principals influence the working conditions and skill level of every teacher in the building, their impact is outsized.
“We don’t believe there are any quick fixes in education. Investing in the skill and capacity of the people working in our schools is the only way we will see true transformation,” Whorton said.
In surveys, 100 percent of alumni respondents said they were stronger leaders because of the skills gained through Holdsworth and were more effective at leading change and delivering excellent and equitable outcomes for students. Similarly, 100 percent of superintendents surveyed rate their leadership pipeline as stronger after partnering with Holdsworth for at least three years.
Since its founding in 2017, Holdsworth has served 1,371 educators across 50 districts in more than 200 schools in Texas.
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