Following the announcement this morning that H-E-B CEO Charles Butt will invest $100 million into the creation of a leadership institute to foster the advancement of Texas public school education, Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz voiced his support for the program, calling it an "exciting opportunity" to improve learning environments for students.

"Things change, and we have to learn and explore," Cruz said. "That is what this opportunity is about, about making schools better for you [students]."

Paul Cruz Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz spoke of the potential of AISD students following the announcement of the creation of the Holdsworth Center.[/caption]

The Austin-based Holdsworth Institute will work with superintendents, principals and administrators to develop the skills needed to improve the quality of public education in Texas. Among the school districts invited to apply to participate in the program's first run, slated to begin in June, is AISD.

Cruz thanked Butt for his leadership in founding the center as well as AISD board of trustees members Kendall Pace and Ann Teich for their focus on enhancing leadership in AISD.

Cruz called the potential of AISD students "limitless."

"There is a lot of potential in our kids and in public education," Cruz said. "This opportunity will bring that potential to the forefront, so that we all work together to learn and experience and get better at educating our kids and having a great learning environment for all of our students."