LISD honored for Outstanding Educator Support Initiative

Lockhart, TX — 

Lockhart Independent School District has been recognized by the Mexican American School Boards Association (MASBA) with the Outstanding Educator Support Initiative Award, presented at the 2025 MASBA Conference in San Antonio on October 3. The honor celebrates Lockhart ISD’s shared leadership model, an approach that expands coaching and support for teachers, addresses the statewide teacher shortage with practical innovation, and demonstrates a clear, positive impact on student achievement. 

Developed in 2019 and piloted at Plum Creek Elementary, the shared leadership model distributes leadership across four levels—Leader of Self, Leader of Others/Teams, Leader of Leaders, and Leader of the Organization—so that principals are no longer the sole pillar of campus leadership. Highly effective teachers, known as Lever Leaders, continue teaching while also leading teams, facilitating professional learning, and serving on campus leadership teams. These leaders rank among the top 20 percent of educators in the district in student growth and help multiply the support available to teachers across the district.

“Shared leadership in Lockhart is about directly addressing the factors that cause teachers to leave the profession: compensation, autonomy, and career advancement,” said Superintendent Mark Estrada. “By empowering teachers to lead, we are transforming their experience and driving better outcomes for students.”

Results at Plum Creek illustrate the model’s impact. Average daily attendance reached 95.54% in 2024–25, surpassing the prior year and the state average. Student growth has accelerated, with 95% of students meeting 1.5 years of growth in math and 94% in reading in 2024–25, up from 77% and 86% respectively two years earlier. Teacher experience is improving as well. Additionally, Plum  Creek became LISD’s first campus to receive an A accountability rating and 5 academic distinctions from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the 2024-25 school year. 

“The shared leadership model allows teachers, who know their students best, to have a real voice in decision-making,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Stephaine Camarillo. “It is changing how our campuses operate and thrive.” Executive Principal Jamee Griebel, who led the initial pilot, added, “It has truly been life-changing to see the growth since we started six years ago, and we are excited to see that impact expand districtwide.”

The model is now in place across all Lockhart ISD campuses. For the 2025–2026 school year, there are 24 Lever Leaders at the elementary level alone. Many Lever Leaders earn over $100,000 annually as part of the district’s Pathway to $100K, which aims for 30 percent of teachers to reach that milestone by 2028, offering advancement without leaving the classroom. “Our shared leadership model gives teachers a real voice in decisions,” Estrada said. “We believe it can reshape the culture of education and redefine what it means to be a teacher.”

Lockhart ISD is grateful to MASBA for this recognition and to our teachers, leaders, families, and community partners who make shared leadership possible. Together, we will continue to elevate educators and accelerate student growth across the district.