Great schools start with great principals and administrators – at least that is the philosophy of the Holdsworth Center, a leadership institute for Texas public schools that Veranda schools have been participating in since 2017.
Founded by H-E-B Chairman/CEO Charles Butt, the Holdsworth Center offers world-class training and leadership development to school districts selected to participate through a generous multi-year investment.
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District was one of seven districts selected to participate in the center's inaugural cohort with our own Lamar Consolidated High School and Hutchison Elementary School among the first to enter the Holdsworth program. Lamar Consolidated Junior High School entered the program this year.
The program’s goal is to support and develop campus leaders with the hope that well-trained principals, vice principals and other administrators will improve the quality of education offered to students.
The Holdsworth Center will spend about $4 million over five years working with the districts, providing two on-the-ground staff members, training from renowned management experts, and airfare and accommodations for visits to world-class institutions.
Those trips include visits to Singapore, the top-ranked performer on the most closely watched international academic assessment, and Ontario, Canada, widely regarded for its academic progress over the past decade.
Principals participate in a two-year program that focuses on teacher development, individual growth plans and campus transformation. Campus leaders attend regular training sessions emphasizing constructive communication and motivational techniques. Staffers have finalized evaluation tools for campus-level administrators and potential job candidates, valuing harder-to-measure soft skills.
We are thrilled that our schools care so much about their students and are looking forward to seeing the innovative programs our principals will be introducing in the coming years.
