Receive the most recent news, stories, and more from the Charles Butt Foundation.
When Uvalde CISD began its search for new leadership, Ashley Chohlis felt a deep calling. “I felt compelled to apply for the job and come and do the work necessary to bring back a sense of safety and security in our schools and the community. I want to make sure that Uvalde kids have opportunities and a future.”
The Raising School Leaders program has been described as transformative by both new and seasoned leaders, propelling positive change in their school. We asked alums from across the years to share what being part of this program has meant to them personally, professionally, and to the school communities they lead.
Socorro ISD represents an exemplary pilot program that embedded blended learning into its literacy framework and growth targets as a district. While the core tenets of change management may be familiar, this case study offers an in-depth look at the experiences of practitioners as they scale best teaching and learning practices.
The Foundation will sponsor 30 educators from 28 traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at Harvard.
Riza Cooper is the principal at Elgin Middle School in Elgin ISD. As a campus and district leader, Cooper has made a mark by coaching emerging talent on her team on their leadership journey. She did just that for her colleague Dr. Sarah Borowicz who is now the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for Elgin ISD.
“Everything that I would have to say about Raise Your Hand Texas and the Charles Butt Foundation comes from a place of gratitude for the people that I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had as an educator,” says Dr. Tamara McWilliams.
The application for the 2024 cohort of the Raising School Leaders program, an initiative designed to develop stronger school leaders who will enhance the quality of education across Texas, is now open.
“What I’m most prideful about of this alumni network is often we’re each other’s first phone call,” says Lee Vi Moses. “Our job is very rewarding, but it can also be very challenging and there’s a lot of decisions that we have to make that take courage.”
How did Urlel and Mark go from casual conversation over chips and salsa to collaborating as colleagues?
LaTonia Amerson and Tai Ingram met in 2015 through the Raising School Leaders Harvard Leadership program.
In a short timeframe, his example of authentic and representational leadership has made lasting impacts on the school district and the city of San Antonio.
The Foundation will sponsor 50 educators from 35 district and charter schools across Texas to attend weeklong summer institutes at Harvard.
Crystal Romero-Mueller was elated when Deniss Moreno requested her as a mentor.
Our 15th annual Leadership Symposium brought together over 300 dedicated school leaders from across the state to spend three days connecting with one another.
Oftentimes, while working in a rural community, opportunities, like attending the Harvard Leadership Program, are very limited.
We asked our alumni to reflect on the meaningful relationships they’ve made through these networks. These were their responses …
Raising School Leaders cohort application is open until March 15. This year, they’re particularly focused on sending rural school leaders.
School leaders from across Texas reunited for three days of fellowship, dynamic breakout sessions, and dialogues on the current climate.
This year will mark our 14th annual Leadership Symposium and 4th annual Scholar Symposium.
The Foundation announced it will sponsor 85 educators from 54 district and charter schools across Texas to attend Harvard.
From women managing a classroom to women guiding the vision for a district, the impact of women on public education is undeniable.
In the midst of navigating storm Uri, a principal experienced a personal awakening that would change how she shows up as a leader.
Kim Darden, the principal at Pearland ISDs Alternative Choice for Education (PACE) Center and an alumna of the Raising School Leaders program stays grounded in her mission of supporting all students with individualized care and in advancing practices proven to make a positive difference on student outcomes.
An aspiring teacher in her first year of college unexpectedly finds a mentor when she reconnects with her own elementary school principal.
Despite a pandemic, Texas public school leaders from across the state “gathered” together for three days of fellowship, presentations, breakout sessions, and the opportunity to engage in conversations with lawmakers and state officials.
This audio interview explores how restorative practices can be critical tools for educators and families conducting remote learning.
An alternative school of choice in Pearland ISD leads with restorative practices and a focus on mental health.
The 12th annual Raise Your Hand Texas Leadership Symposium brought together 350+ Texas public school leaders from across the state. This year’s theme, 2020: Texans for All, emphasized what makes Texas public education special — we are for all. All teachers. All families. All school leaders. All communities. We are Texans for all futures. Because the future of Texas is in our public schools.
A turnaround principal returns to one of the poorest neighborhoods in Houston to lift up the community that raised her.
Early on this scholar knew that inclusion — in education, postsecondary opportunities, careers, and our community — would be her life’s passion.
How the lack of black male teachers fuels one scholar’s passion
This year’s theme, Raise Your Voice, encouraged educators to stand up and speak out on behalf of their schools, districts, and communities, to make meaningful change, from their campuses to the capitol, for all students and for all educators.
At Paredes Middle School every student is encouraged to see their own greatness and given a platform to be a leader.
Malinda Villalobos is the principal of the Ysleta Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Ysleta ISD – the first all-girls public school in El Paso.
The Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation is sponsoring 109 school leaders and team members from 51 school districts and three Education Service Centers across Texas to attend weeklong summer institutes at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Dana Boyd, the principal of East Point Elementary School in Ysleta ISD, is a decorated educator. She was named Texas National Distinguished Principal in 2016 and Texas Teacher of the Year in 2007.
The 2018 Leadership Symposium honored the more than 1,000 leaders sponsored for leadership development and coaching programs, the 10th annual symposium coordinated by the Foundation, and our singular shared purpose of strengthening public education for all Texas students.
Congratulations to the visionary Texas public school educators who just completed a summer institute at Harvard.
Raise Your Hand Texas is sponsoring 123 school leaders for summer leadership programs at The Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
For 10 years, Principal Edgar Tibayan has been an educator in one of Texas’ poorest and most isolated school districts. But his chief message to his students is that poverty does not define a person’s destiny.
We Asked You to “Go Beyond.” You Accepted the Challenge! This year’s “Campus to Capitol” leadership conference was a first-of-its-kind event.
This year’s conference focused on campus-to-community partnerships and innovation in education.
Explore the power of grit and grace in school transformation. Discover how school leaders can take their schools to impressive new heights.
Principal Leads School from Sense of History and Culture
The 2015 Raise Your Hand Texas “Campus to Capitol” Leadership Symposium was a colossal success.
Born Leader Shifts From Medical Doctor Dreams To Educating Young Dreamers