“The Teacher Retreat has been the single most transformative moment in my 27 years of education.”

Nicole Dickerson
Dallas ISD Teacher
.…on her experience at The Holdsworth Center Teacher Retreat on Lake Austin.

Do you know a deserving teacher in Dallas-Fort Worth who could use a break? Here’s your chance to help. The Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit that builds stronger leaders for Texas public schools, is inviting North Texans to nominate a teacher for a weekend retreat at the center’s campus on Lake Austin—”a one-of-a-kind place dedicated to the idea that public education matters.”

Aerial view of the Holdsworth Center on Lake Austin. [Photo: Kristian Alveo]

Built by Holdsworth founder and H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt, the campus features 186 rooms for overnight stays, walking trails, an open-air amphitheater, a two-story dock classroom, and a 300-person lecture space.  

Nominations are open through February 28 and can be found online here. Once the nominations are in, 150 teachers will have the opportunity to attend a retreat from April 25-27. That weekend is all expenses paid, thanks to sponsors including H-E-B, Frost Bank, A+ Federal Credit Union, Clean Scapes, the MFI Foundation, and Raftelis.

Teachers enjoying the view at a Holdsworth Center teacher retreat. [Photo: Holdsworth Center]

“Teachers are the lifeblood of our public education system and work hard every day to spark students’ love of learning and unlock their future potential,” Dr. Lindsay Whorton, president of The Holdsworth Center, said in a statement. “We know the ongoing challenges our teachers face, and we want to show our appreciation by inviting them to our lakeside campus to renew and reenergize.”

During the retreat, teachers can enjoy food from Holdsworth’s culinary team, do yoga or Zumba, go to well-being workshops, or just sit in an Adirondack chair and listen to waves from Lake Austin lapping the shore. They can also enjoy time with their peers and learn about ways to manage stress and enhance their well-being, the center said.

The sun sets at a Holdsworth Center teacher retreat. [Photo: Kristian Alveo]

“It reminded me that what I do matters,” Dallas ISD teacher Nicole Dickerson said of her own experience at the retreat.

H-E-B’s Charles Butt built the campus on “as a gift to hardworking educators, who he believes deserve world-class professional development opportunities in a setting that rivals what CEOs and business executives experience,” the center said.

Since its founding in 2017, the center has served more than 1,900 educators and 89 school districts across Texas through its leadership programs. You can learn more about The Holdsworth Center by going here.

Group photo of teachers at a Holdsworth Center teacher retreat. [Photo: Holdsworth Center]

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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