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Building Systems for Results: Leadership Stories from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Lockhart ISD
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Presented by Mark Estrada, Superintendent, Lockhart ISD (TX); and Nancy Brightwell, Chief of Recruitment, Retention and Talent Development, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC)
Moderated by Dr. Jennifer Ferrari, CEO and President, ERDI
Presented by ERDI
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Across the country, leaders are searching for practical ways to move beyond isolated initiatives and build systems that actually change teaching and learning. In the third edLeader Panel of Trailblazing Leadership Week, Nancy Brightwell (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and Mark Estrada (Lockhart Independent School District) share how they rethought leadership, professional learning, and support structures to drive real gains for students.
Nancy unpacks how Charlotte-Mecklenburg aligned high-quality teachers, high-quality curricula, and accountable practice through a clear theory of change. Viewers see how Charlotte-Mecklenburg defined roles for specialists and master teachers, created Crown Academy to better prepare new teachers, and built monitoring systems that connect central office, principals, and classrooms in a continuous learning cycle.
Mark shares how Lockhart ISD’s “A Way, Not The Way” approach and 4Bs/6 Levers framework led to a districtwide shared leadership model. He highlights the Lever Leader role, talent identification and development systems, and the 70–20–10 approach to coaching and on-the-job learning that is building a sustainable leadership bench.
You leave with concrete ideas for redefining leadership roles, designing job-embedded support, and building people-centered systems that improve outcomes for students without burning out your best educators. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to PreK-12 school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
This edLeader Panel is part of Trailblazing Leadership Week.
About the Presenters
Mark Estrada currently serves as the Superintendent at Lockhart Independent School District, a fast-growth school district and participant in The Holdsworth Center Leadership Program. Mark has a wealth of leadership experience, having served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Principal of Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary School, Plum Creek Elementary, Lockhart Junior High, and ML Cisneros Freshman Campus. He has also served as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and as a teacher at the middle school level in the Del Valle ISD. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Texas State University. Mark is a Class of 2014 ASCD Emerging Leader and currently a Doctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP). Mark also sits on the board for the Texas State University College of Education and was the 2021 Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and a Texas Top 5 Finalist.
Nancy Brightwell currently serves as the Executive Director for Central 1 Learning Community at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina. Previously, Nancy served as the Chief Academic Officer for CMS from 2020-2023, an assistant superintendent supervising schools for four years, and a school superintendent for school support. Nancy has also led a 14-school turnaround initiative and served as a principal for 20 years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Nancy is part of the American Leadership Forum – Class XIII, a co-lead for the CMS Equity-Centered Leadership Team, a member of Community of Practitioners for North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and a member of the Technical Work Group reviewing Turnaround Leadership for U.S. Department of Education.
About the Moderator
Dr. Jennifer Ferrari is a distinguished leader in the educational sector, uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and business. As the CEO and President of the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI), she has married her extensive background in public education with her sharp business acumen to drive transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of PK-12 education. Her leadership is characterized by a strategic blend of educational insight and business innovation, facilitating impactful collaborations between district leaders and industry experts to optimize product development and implement effective solutions in schools nationwide.
Before ascending to her current role, Dr. Ferrari served as the VP and chief schools officer for a pioneering education management organization, where she spearheaded strategic planning and organizational growth. Her 25-year public education background, spanning roles from middle school teacher to superintendent, with expertise in curriculum and instruction, leadership development, change management, and strategic planning, provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of education and business, enabling her to lead with insight and innovation. Dr. Ferrari earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Chicago.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Leadership and Innovation community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
At the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) we work to create a rich and meaningful forum for education leaders and solution providers to collaboratively discuss, design, and shape the products and services, which support PK-12 education. We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality learning experiences, so that they will be productive, ready stewards of the future.
