Oct. 10, 2025

Transforming School Leadership: Insights with Dr. Lindsay Whorton

Show Notes

Welcome to The Jeff Bradbury Show, featuring conversations with the creators shaping the future of learning. In this episode, Dr. Lindsay Whorton discusses critical aspects of educational leadership, emphasizing the importance of investing in teacher development and the qualities that define effective leaders. She explores pathways to leadership, how to define success, and the external expectations placed on educational leaders. The conversation highlights the support provided to diverse school districts and the significance of building strong relationships within the educational community. Dr. Whorton shares success stories that illustrate how effective leadership transforms schools and communities.

Become a High-Impact Leader:

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Curriculum Design and Implementation:Discover practical strategies for integrating digital learning into existing curricula, creating vertical alignment of skills, and mapping digital learning across grade levels.
Effective Instructional Coaching:Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage.

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Key Takeaways:

Long-term success in education requires sustained investment.
Leaders develop through both experience and intentional training.
Effective leaders demonstrate humility and embrace continuous learning.
Strong leadership begins with a clear, compelling vision.
Healthy organizations engage all stakeholders meaningfully.
Successful leadership strategies adapt to each unique context.
Strong relationships form the foundation of effective leadership.
Strategic timing matters when seeking leadership development support.
Transitioning leadership roles demands flexible, adaptive strategies.
Lasting school change happens by empowering teachers.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Educational Leadership
01:31 The Importance of Investing in Education
03:04 Defining Educational Leadership
04:35 Qualities of Effective Leaders
06:47 Pathways to Leadership
09:16 Defining Success in Leadership
11:07 External Perspectives on Leadership
12:40 Supporting Diverse School Districts
14:40 Building Relationships with School Districts
17:10 Timing for Seeking Support
18:42 Adapting to Change in Leadership
20:05 Success Stories in Leadership Development

About our Guest: Dr. Lindsay Whorton

Dr. Lindsay Whorton is proud to be a founding member of The Holdsworth Center. She helped design the blueprint for the center’s programming and has served as president since 2019. Under Lindsay’s leadership, Holdsworth has grown from serving seven public school districts through its initial offering – the Holdsworth Partnership – to serving more than 1,900 leaders in 89 public school districts across several programs, all designed to build a bench of stronger superintendents and principals for Texas public schools. Lindsay’s story with Holdsworth began in 2015, when Charles Butt, Chairman of H-E-B, tapped her to work with an organizing board designing the center’s first programs. At the time, Lindsay was working as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Washington D.C. She officially joined The Holdsworth Center team shortly after its launch in January 2017. In her role as managing director of district support, Lindsay helped create and evolve Holdsworth’s model for supporting partner districts to develop aspiring leaders, place them in leadership roles and support them as they progress along their leadership journey. A native of Independence, Missouri, Lindsay earned bachelor’s degree in secondary education and English from Drake University in Iowa, where she served as a captain of the women’s basketball team. She holds a master’s degree in comparative social policy and a doctorate in social policy from Oxford University. When she’s not working, Lindsay is reading, painting, spending time with family, building furniture and creating things with concrete.

Links of Interest

Website:https://holdsworthcenter.org/board/dr-lindsay-whorton/

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Check Out Additional TeacherCast Programming

Digital Learning Today:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310
Ask the Tech Coach:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-tech-coach/id1067586243
The Jeff Bradbury Showhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828

Book Jeff for your Next Event

Jeff Bradbury (ISTE “20 to Watch” Award Winner and ISTE Certified Educator) is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and live event broadcasting. With expertise in educational technology and professional development, Jeff brings engaging content and practical strategies to conferences and professional learning events.