WISD Campuses Selected for the Holdsworth Center Campus Leadership Program

Holdsworth Leadership Program

Two campuses in Waxahachie ISD have been selected for the first statewide cohort of the Holdsworth Center's Campus Leadership Program (CLP), a two-year learning journey for principals and their teams to drive positive change for students.

The Holdsworth Center, a Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to building stronger leaders for Texas public schools, selected 72 campuses from across the state, including:

Dunaway Elementary School Principal Ginger Aleman and Felty Elementary School Principal Aisha Mason

We are incredibly proud of the campuses selected for this rigorous learning journey. Their commitment to students, their communities, and to continuous improvement represents the heart of what great public schools are all about. These leaders are stepping forward to create better outcomes for kids, and we are honored to support the important work they’re doing.

Sharon Foley, Managing Director of Campus Programs for The Holdsworth Center

To date, more than 1,500 leaders across 34 districts are either enrolled in or have graduated from the program, which provides practical, job-embedded development for school leadership teams.

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Why it Matters

• Proven impact: In 2025, 96% of schools that graduated from the Campus Leadership Program saw improved student outcomes.
• Holdsworth principals and teachers stay longer: A recent study found that 77% of Holdsworth principals were retained or moved up to roles with greater responsibility and influence over the past five years, compared with 69% of their non-Holdsworth counterparts. Similarly, 83% of teachers who went through the program stayed in their roles or moved into elevated positions, compared to just 66% of their non-Holdsworth counterparts.
• Principals matter: They are second only to teachers when it comes to influencing student outcomes – their strong, direct impact on teachers only multiplies that effect.
• Local Benefits: Leaders return to their schools equipped to close achievement gaps, support teachers, and create thriving learning environments.

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Program Highlights

• First, principals work to strengthen their leadership skills through learning sessions at the Campus on Lake Austin and executive coaching.
• Then, principals are joined by a team of campus leaders to learn new skills and practice them in real situations they face on campus. Field visits enrich the learning and show teams what is possible.
• Together, the team learns continuous improvement methods and applies them to improving math outcomes for an underserved group at their school.

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About The Holdsworth Center

The Holdsworth Center is a non-profit that builds stronger leaders for Texas public schools through world-class leadership programs. Since its founding in 2017, Holdsworth has served more than 1,900 educators in 88 school districts across Texas.