AUSTIN, TX (May 30, 2024) – The Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, announced today it will sponsor 30 educators from traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
With this new cohort, the Charles Butt Foundation will have supported more than 1,600 educators to attend training at Harvard through the Raising School Leaders program, an initiative designed to develop stronger school leaders who will enhance the quality of education across Texas. The Charles Butt Foundation covers expenses for the attendees including tuition, travel, hotel, and other discretionary costs for a total investment of more than $10 million since the program’s inception.
The Raising School Leaders program is designed to inspire, challenge, and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond. Attendees will participate in a weeklong leadership institute development led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts. Following the Harvard institute, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders, work together to create change at the campus and district levels, and receive continuous support and professional development.
“Great teachers, along with strong school and district leaders, represent the most significant influencers of academic achievement and supportive culture,” said Tim Miller, Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation. “Our alumni report that their Harvard experience is the best professional development they have ever experienced and that they return to their campuses energized, inspired, and empowered to make meaningful change that benefits all students.”
For this year’s Raising School Leaders cohort, preference was given to school leaders from schools and districts that are considered rural or had a district student enrollment of less than 5,500. “As demographics shift in Texas, we recognize that the needs of schools in rural and smaller districts are unique. Creating a space for school leaders in rural and smaller districts to find commonalities, problem solve, and build a network of support is an important component of this year’s Raising School Leaders program,” added Miller.
Below is a list of all cohort members from across Texas:
Alba-Golden ISD
Brittany Hall, Alba-Golden Secondary School
Ballinger ISD
Leslie Griffis, Ballinger High School
Bridge City ISD
Grady Welborn, Bridge City Middle School
Brownsboro ISD
Melissa Barrett, Chandler Intermediate School
Caddo Mills ISD
Michelle Colwell, Kathryn Griffis Elementary School
Carthage ISD
Justin Smith, Carthage High School
Chapel Hill ISD
Bethany Moody, W L Kissam Intermediate School
Coldspring Oakhurst CISD
Shalonda Washington, James Street Elementary School
Como-Pickton CISD
Shonda Rutledge, Como-Pickton Elementary School
Cotulla ISD
Daniel Martinez, Newman Middle School
Crandall ISD
Paige Cherry, Noble Reed Elementary School
Fabens ISD
Daniel Aguayo, Fabens High School
Jacksboro ISD
Jackie Hamilton, Jacksboro Middle School
Jim Ned CISD
Alana McClure, Buffalo Gap Elementary School
Lake Dallas ISD
Kendrick Johnson, Lake Dallas Middle School
Natalia ISD
Bridget Ayala, Natalia Elementary School
Nixon-Smiley CISD
Maria Jimenez, Nixon-Smiley High School
Post ISD
Kaitlin Jeffrey, Post Middle School
Robinson ISD
Travis Braugh, Robinson Junior High School
Royse City ISD
Brittany Lancaster, Miss May Vernon Elementary School
San Diego ISD
Amanda Morgan, Collins-Parr Elementary School
San Elizario ISD
Richard Salcido, Ann M. Garcia-Enriquez Middle School
Schleicher County ISD
Kristin Sissom, Eldorado Elementary School
Seagraves ISD
Shelley Mann, Seagraves Elementary School
Texas Leadership Charter Academy
Sarah Hernandez, TLCA San Angelo High School
Thorndale ISD
Shannon Morrison, Thorndale Elementary School
Uvalde CISD
Sandra Gonzalez, Batesville School
Hector Lopez, Crossroads Academy High School
Patricia Merlos, Morales Junior High School
Wellington ISD
Jermaine Cantu, Wellington High School
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MEDIA CONTACT:Tessa Benavides-Cooper
tbenavides@charlesbuttfdn.org
ABOUT THE CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION
The Charles Butt Foundation is pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships. The Foundation is working toward a future in which all Texas children and families live in vibrant communities supported by a world-class education system. To learn more, visit CharlesButtFdn.org.
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