A new education leadership institute based in Austin announced Thursday that seven Texas public school districts will be invited to the center's first cohort, including Round Rock ISD. The nonprofit Holdsworth Center will work with school district superintendents, principals and administrators to develop skills aimed at improving the quality of public education in the state. The inaugural cohort will begin in June, according to the center. In addition to RRISD, the other districts in the cohort include:
  • Arlington ISD
  • Grand Prairie ISD
  • Klein ISD
  • Lamar CISD in Rosenberg
  • Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
  • Southwest ISD in San Antonio
District officials will participate in classes, team projects, lectures and discussion with topics focused on education-related management and leadership.

“We are excited to begin our first program with a strong group of districts who have dynamic leaders at the helm,” Kate Rogers, the center's executive vice president, said in a news release. “Though all seven are doing great work, they’ve identified areas where they can improve and are open to creative solutions. Our staff is eager to help. In the end, the work we will do together benefits students by ensuring that every school has a great leader.”

In February, 26 school districts were invited to apply to be part of the center's first cohort. Austin ISD was among the 26 and was named a finalist, according to the center.

A waterfront site in West Austin—owned by the R.G. Mueller Jr. Partnership adjacent to tracts owned by the David Booth Trust and near the Pennybacker Bridge east of Loop 360—has been selected as the center's future home, which could be built and opened by 2021.

Rogers said in February the center is considering a plan to develop the site as a planned unit development, or PUD. The property is currently zoned residential.

The inaugural cohort will meet in June at Hyatt Lost Pines Resort outside of Austin. The five-year program will include a trip in July to Singapore for participants to learn more about the country's methods to promote educational leadership.

The center is named for the mother of Charles Butt, the chairman and CEO of H-E-B, who donated $100 million to the project in January.

The program’s first round is by invitation only, but in subsequent years, school districts will be able to apply to participate.