Region 20 launches Texas Strategic Leadership pilot with Harlandale ISD to operationalize district strategic plan

Region 20 executive coaches on Jan. — presented a Texas Strategic Leadership pilot to the Harlandale ISD Board of Trustees that will pair executive coaching, a landscape analysis of classrooms and performance-management supports with the district’s existing strategic plan.

Dr. Chris Galloway, introduced as an executive coach at Region 20, described the program as systems work intended to “get the whole district on the same page” and said TSL will focus on six research-based levers including planning and performance management, instructional experience, student supports, instructional capacity, talent systems and finance and operations.

Dr. Jeff Price, described in the presentation as a performance-management data analyst at Region 20, said the landscape analysis will include short, five-minute classroom visits focused on math and reading to collect nonjudgmental data about “what we see in the classrooms” and that teachers and administrators will be notified in advance. “It’s not designed to give immediate teacher feedback,” Price said; “it is designed to go in and say, what are some big general trends we just saw?”

Superintendent Sotto introduced the Region 20 coaches and explained the district already has a strategic plan; Region 20’s role, presenters said, is to help operationalize that plan. The presenters said Harlandale ISD is in the second year of a TSL pilot being run by Region 20 and that Harlandale was approached because Region 20 saw “great progress.”

Board members asked about scope and cost. Region 20 representatives said the work is provided through a grant for the pilot and described the service as free to the district for the pilot period, estimating that contracting similar consulting services privately would cost roughly $60,000–$80,000. The presenters said continuation beyond the pilot would likely require fee-for-service or an à la carte model.

Trustees also asked about timeline and expected duration. Region 20 said they expect to work directly with Harlandale ISD for two years as part of the current pilot but noted that legislative funding decisions could extend support to three years pending state action; they said notification about that possibility was expected in March. The coaches said their work includes forming a superintendent performance-management committee (a steering committee) and training district staff and stakeholders to use continuous performance-management systems.

The presentation included examples from other districts where TSL work led to revised walkthrough forms, more meaningful planning time for teachers and inclusion of financial responsibility filters when buying instructional materials.

Board members and the presenters discussed family engagement and communication plans for the work; presenters said they will develop communications and training so parents and guardians understand the framework and how to support classroom literacy and numeracy at home.

The board discussion did not include a formal vote on launching the TSL pilot; presenters said staff will coordinate next steps and campus walkthrough scheduling with district leaders.

The board thanked the presenters and indicated support for proceeding with the two-year pilot and the initial landscape work.