TEMPLE, Texas — Dr. Donna Ward, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Temple Independent School District, has been selected to join The Holdsworth Center’s Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Program (ASLP), a 15-month program designed to equip future superintendents with the skills, knowledge, and experience to lead Texas districts with vision and purpose.
Ward, who has worked in Temple ISD for more than a decade, is one of just 20 school district leaders from across the state who were selected to participate in this cohort of the Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Program. The program is designed to help leaders gain mastery of skills and behaviors needed to be exceptional superintendents from day one. According to the Holdsworth Center’s description of the program, leaders will apply new skills immediately through special projects created in partnership with their superintendent. The program hones critical leadership skills like communication, relationship management, and decision-making – increasingly vital skills in today’s educational landscape. Participants apply these skills in real-world situations, receiving guidance and feedback from experienced coaches to refine their approach and reach mastery.
“I am honored to be selected for the Holdsworth Aspiring Superintendent Leadership Program,” Ward said. “This opportunity will allow me to grow under the mentorship of experienced leaders and develop the skills essential for leading a district with clarity, compassion, and vision. From building strong partnerships with school boards to engaging communities in long-term strategic planning, I look forward to deepening my leadership capacity to better serve students, staff, and families.”
“Developing leadership pipelines are a hallmark of high performing organizations,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of Temple schools. “Temple ISD has committed to developing leadership experiences for different positions in order to make sure we have the best ‘bench-ready’ administrators in line for our students. We are grateful that Dr. Ward was accepted in this program and look forward to supporting her development as an executive leader.”
The job of superintendent is rewarding, but also difficult and complex. There are few opportunities to “practice” the role before taking the seat. Superintendents who are unprepared for the little-known realities of the role pose a higher risk of leaving before they can have a positive impact. Superintendent instability has negative impacts on district staff and students.
“There’s nothing like this program in the field,” said Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Holdsworth’s Executive Superintendent-in-Residence. Cavazos recently retired from Arlington ISD, where he served as superintendent for 11 years. “It’s like a medical residency for superintendents. We put them in as many real-life or simulated scenarios as possible to get them ready for a challenging, high-stakes job. It’s one thing to watch your superintendent run a board meeting, quite another when you’re the one in the hot seat answering tough questions.”
Dr. Lisa Adams, deputy superintendent of Academics and school leadership for Temple schools, graduated from the inaugural cohort of Holdsworth’s ASLP in April. Ott, Adams, and Ward also participated in the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative. That experience helped lead to the creation of Temple ISD’s Leadership Definition Framework and the establishment of the district’s principal pipeline program to develop and prepare high-performing assistant principals to move into principal roles.