The Texas Legacies in Education Leadership Institute (TxLELI) is a collaborative professional learning experience developed through a partnership between Texas A+ Challenge, an initiative of Children at Risk, and the Texas Wesleyan University College of Education.

TxLELI is grounded in the belief that leadership is not confined to formal titles or positions. Strong schools and systems are shaped by educators at every level who possess the knowledge, confidence, and skills to lead improvement, strengthen instructional practice, and positively influence student outcomes.

By bringing together the research-driven perspective of Childen at Risk and Texas A+ Challenge with the academic and leadership expertise of Texas Wesleyan University, the institute provides a rigorous and practice-centered learning experience for educators across Texas.

Vision
TxLELI aspires to be a premier leadership learning experience for Texas educators — cultivating leaders who drive meaningful change, foster strong professional communities, and influence positive outcomes for students and schools.

Mission
The mission of TxLELI is to empower educators by providing rigorous, relevant, and practice-centered leadership development. Through interactive learning, collaboration, and mentorship, participants strengthen their ability to:

• Lead with clarity and purpose

• Support continuous improvement

• Build and leverage professional networks

• Communicate effectively across stakeholders

• Develop future leaders through mentoring

The institute reflects a shared commitment by Texas A+ Challenge and Texas Wesleyan University to develop leaders equipped to meet the evolving needs of Texas schools and communities.

About the Institute

The Texas Legacies in Education Leadership Institute (TxLELI) is designed as a hybrid professional learning experience that extends beyond a single summer event.

Participants begin with four in-person institute days held during the summer at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, where they engage in interactive leadership learning, collaboration, and applied practice grounded in real educational contexts.

TxLELI participants earn a microcredential issued through the Texas Wesleyan University College of Education, recognizing their engagement in advanced professional learning and leadership development. This microcredential reflects participants’ sustained work across both the in-person and virtual components of the institute.

To support continued growth and application, the institute includes a series of virtual follow-up sessions conducted during the fall semester. These sessions are intentionally scheduled in the evenings to accommodate educators’ professional responsibilities and are determined collaboratively during the summer institute to align with participant schedules.

This hybrid structure ensures that professional learning is sustained, practice-centered, and responsive to participants’ evolving leadership experiences. Rather than a stand-alone event, TxLELI provides an ongoing cycle of learning, reflection, mentoring, and problem-solving.

Across both the summer and fall components, the institute emphasizes practical leadership strategies, professional collaboration, and immediately applicable approaches educators can use within their schools and organizations.