Last month, CEO and chairman of H-E-B Charles Butt announced he would invest $100 million into statewide public education through the founding of the Holdsworth Center, a leadership institute based in Austin dedicated to the professional development of teachers, staff and administrators. Twenty-six schools districts have been invited to apply for the center's inaugural program, beginning in June, of which six will be selected. Austin and Round Rock ISDs are among those districts.

Twenty-six schools districts have been invited to apply for the center's inaugural program, beginning in June, of which six will be selected. Austin and Round Rock ISDs are among those districts.

The program's first round is by invitation only; however, in subsequent years school districts statewide will be welcomed to apply.

“While we hope that over time nearly every district in Texas will benefit from this program in some way, we wanted to kick off the first cohort by inviting a group of folks who we know will be eager for the opportunity and committed to the process,” said Kate Rogers, acting executive vice president of the institute, in a statement. “This group of districts all have dynamic leaders at the helm and boards who are supportive and open to making improvements that will better serve students.”

A permanent site has not yet been identified for the center, so the first program will rotate between conference centers nearby the selected districts so that superintendents can interact with one another in a variety of settings.

During a press conference held last month, Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz called the initiative an "exciting opportunity" for AISD to further its investment in its students.

“There is a lot of potential in our kids and in public education,” Cruz said at the press conference. “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.”

Over a five-year period, the Holdsworth Center will work with districts to empower individual leaders through opportunities to partake in international travel, facilitated lectures and workshops with leadership experts. Through classes and team projects, facilitators at the center will impart best practice change management, effective teaming, board relations, talent management and more.