"If you don't have hope, you have nothing else. Hope gives you the belief and the inspiration that things can get better. We can do this."
Elizabeth Minto-Bauer is a servant leader who is not afraid to be bold when it comes to giving teachers and students what they need to succeed.
After seeing an innovative practice in Lockhart ISD while participating in Holdsworth's Campus Leadership Program in 2023, she created two teacher leader roles to support newer teachers who needed more hands-on guidance. She elevated her best math and science teachers to become Lever Leaders who spend half their time teaching and the other half coaching less experienced teachers.
The results have been remarkable, with increased teacher confidence and improved student performance. Early in 2025, 8th grade students were already showing 22 percent improvement in math over last year’s results on the state test.
Giving struggling teachers confidence means giving them hope. And when teachers are succeeding, it gives students hope that they can do the same.
Coakley Middle School Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer meets with Cassandra Garcia, a Lever Leader, and math teacher Naian Hernandez.
Coakley Middle School Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer meets with Cassandra Garcia, a Lever Leader, and math teacher Naian Hernandez.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer high-fives students in the hallway at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer high-fives students in the hallway at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer works at her desk at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer works at her desk at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer walks the hallways with teachers Naian Hernandez and Cassandra Garcia at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Principal Elizabeth Minto-Bauer walks the hallways with teachers Naian Hernandez and Cassandra Garcia at Coakley Middle School in Harlingen CISD.
Driven by the belief that teachers and students thrive with great leadership, The Holdsworth Center builds stronger leaders for Texas public schools. Founded as a nonprofit in 2017 by H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt, Holdsworth provides world-class leadership development programs and services within districts and at its Campus on Lake Austin, a one-of-a-kind place dedicated to the idea that public education holds worth. Learn more at holdsworthcenter.org.
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