Leadership Partners

What Leadership Partners does

Leadership Partners (legal entity Houston Education Leadership Partners, LLC) is a Houston-based, privately held leadership development organization serving K-16 education leaders. The company was founded in December 2016 by Lawrence Kohn, Ed.D. and Kim Huseman, M.Ed. as an evolution of the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP) that originated in 2008 in partnership with Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business. Leadership Partners is not venture-backed, has two founding partners, and is headquartered at 12602 Summer Lake Ranch Drive, Houston, TX 77044.

The company's core product is the nine-month Executive Education Academy, in which participants earn a Business Certificate from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business. The Academy is supported by a portfolio of executive coaching SKUs (C-Suite, Campus/District Leader Support, Alumni, Team, and Performance Coaching), Leadership Retreats, the proprietary ARA System™ diagnostic (Attract-Retain-Achieve) grounded in the Four Paths of Influence research developed with Dr. Kenneth Leithwood, Four Paths of Influence Surveys, and Custom Programming for districts. The technology foundation consists of validated assessment instruments (Hogan Assessment, 360 Leadership Assessment, Optimum Assessment), a five-core-competency framework (Leading Self, Others, Change, Stakeholders, Results/Organization), and a proprietary cohort-based learning model. The ARA System™ is a registered trademark and measures leadership-created conditions such as teacher trust, collective efficacy, instructional focus, collaboration, and family engagement.

Leadership Partners operates a professional services, quote-based revenue model with multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting school districts and individual education leaders through consultative Calendly-scheduled conversations, with acceptance of Title Funds, campus funds, grant funds, and professional development budgets. The company is a Texas Education Agency-vetted School Transformation Partner and System of Great Schools (SGS) Provider, and its customer base comprises 40+ named Texas public school districts and 60+ school systems collectively across K-16. Cohort 18 of the Academy begins September 25, 2026, with a Leadership Summit at Rice scheduled for June 14-15, 2027.

Name

Leadership Partners

Legal name

Houston Education Leadership Partners, LLC

Website

https://leadershippartnerstx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN), Educational Leadership & Administration Programs (EDAHAFAD), Executive Leadership & Cabinet Administration (EDADAKAA), Sales Leadership & Revenue Executive Coaching (EDABANAL)

Keywords

• Executive education programs
• Leadership coaching services
• Educational leadership development
• School district consulting
• Principal coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Executive Education Academy: Nine-month executive leadership program combining Rice MBA faculty instruction, national thought leaders, executive coaching, cohort learning, and research-based leadership tools. Participants earn a Business Certificate from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business. Cohort 18 begins September 25, 2026.
2. Executive Coaching Services: Individualized executive coaching for campus and district leaders including: Executive Coaching Package, C-Suite Leaders Coaching, Alumni Coaching, Team Coaching, Campus/District Leader Support Coaching, and Performance Coaching. Services can be funded through Title Funds, campus funds, or grant funds.
3. ARA System Diagnostic: Organizational diagnostic service measuring leadership conditions for teacher attraction, retention, and student achievement. Available in three campus participation options with district cohort pricing available.
4. Custom Programming and Consulting: Custom services including Program Evaluation, Classroom Formative Assessment, Executive Coaching, Four Paths of Influence Surveys, and Advanced Problem Solving Methodology tailored to district and school needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Partners delivers executive leadership development for K-16 education leaders through three integrated strands: a nine-month Executive Education Academy (delivered with Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business and conferring a Business Certificate), a suite of executive coaching services for campus, district, C-suite, team, alumni, and performance coaching, and proprietary diagnostic tools including the ARA System™️ and Four Paths of Influence surveys. Services are sold to school districts and individual education leaders and funded through Title Funds, campus funds, grant funds, and professional development budgets.

Product overview

Leadership Partners offers an integrated leadership development ecosystem for K-16 education leaders, combining the Executive Education Academy (a nine-month program with Rice University credentialing), multiple coaching modalities (executive coaching for campus, district, and C-suite leaders; team coaching; alumni coaching; performance coaching), diagnostic tools (ARA System™️ for leadership conditions assessment; Four Paths of Influence Surveys), cohort-based learning experiences, and custom programming for districts. The portfolio centers on developing the "whole leader" through assessment, coaching, reflection, and practical application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Education Academy A nine-month executive leadership experience for school leaders combining Rice University MBA faculty instruction, national leadership speakers, executive coaching, cohort-based learning, and research-based leadership tools; participants earn a Business Certificate from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business.
• Executive Coaching Individualized executive coaching for education leaders providing confidential, structured partnership for reflection, strategic thinking, and leadership practice strengthening; includes seven virtual coaching sessions, assessments, and leadership development strategies.
• Executive Coaching: Campus/District Leaders Stand-alone executive coaching package for campus and district leaders at any level; pairs leaders with board-certified Executive Coaches to optimize leadership practice; can be funded through Title Funds, campus funds, or grant funds.
• Executive Coaching: C-Suite Leaders Specialized executive coaching designed for C-suite education leaders including superintendents, cabinet members, and other senior district administrators.
• Alumni Coaching Package Continued coaching services for Leadership Partners and REEP alumni, supported by International Federation Coaching certified coaches for ongoing leader development.
• Team Coaching Package Team coaching service designed to transform average leadership teams to greatness and dysfunctional teams to stability and improved functionality.
• Campus and District Leader Support Coaching Targeted coaching support specifically designed for campus and district leaders to help them navigate challenges and develop leadership capacity.
• Performance Coaching Stand-alone performance coaching package for educational leaders focusing on individual performance improvement and goal achievement.
• Performance Coaching Workshop Workshop format for performance coaching that provides group learning and skill development in performance coaching techniques.
• Leadership Retreats Summer leadership retreats providing intensive off-site development experiences for education leaders.
• ARA System™️ (Attract • Retain • Achieve) Organizational intelligence diagnostic grounded in the Four Paths of Influence research; helps campus and district leaders examine conditions connected to attracting strong educators, retaining effective teachers, and achieving stronger student outcomes; available in three campus participation options with district cohort pricing.
• Four Paths of Leadership Influence Surveys Research-based diagnostic surveys measuring the Four Paths of Influence variables that impact learning and achievement; developed with Dr. Ken Leithwood and Dr. Jing Ping Sun to diagnose conditions for school improvement.
• Custom Programming Custom professional development services for districts and schools including Program Evaluation, Classroom Formative Assessment, Executive Coaching, Four Paths of Influence Surveys, and Advanced Problem Solving Methodology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 325% increase in 8-10 leadership ratings for 'Leading Change' competency
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Rice University's Jones Graduate School of BusinessflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore strategic partnership delivering the Executive Education Academy. Rice provides MBA faculty for four days of programming, business curriculum, the Business Certificate credential, and Leadership Summit facilities. The partnership provides distinct brand credibility and access to top-10 ranked business education. Dr. Brent Smith serves as Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education. The partnership has been in place since 2008 through the Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program and continues through Leadership Partners.
• Texas Education Agency (TEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership Partners is a TEA-vetted School Transformation Partner and a System of Great Schools (SGS) Provider. This official designation enables the company to work directly with Texas public school districts as an approved partner for school improvement initiatives.
• Texas School Districts NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of 40+ Texas school districts including Brenham ISD, Aldine ISD, Klein ISD, Houston ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Austin ISD, Galveston ISD, Premont ISD, Edgewood ISD, San Antonio ISD, Hearne ISD, Greenville ISD, Willis ISD, Brooks County ISD, San Diego ISD, Runge ISD, Palestine ISD, Everman ISD, PSJA ISD, Humble ISD, Cy Fair ISD, Alief ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Midland ISD, El Paso ISD, Dilley ISD, Monte Alto ISD, Manor ISD, Katy ISD, La Porte ISD, Stafford MSD, Lamar CISD, Channelview ISD, NacISD, Angleton ISD, Crosby ISD, Harmony, Pasadena ISD, and others. Collectively representing 60+ school systems that have participated in Leadership Partners programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Learning Forward: National professional learning association advocating for and providing educator professional development standards and programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent in K-12 professional development and leadership capacity building.
• Center for Creative Leadership: A large, well-established provider of executive leadership development and coaching across multiple sectors including education. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering executive coaching and leadership programs that overlap with Leadership Partners' executive coaching tier.
• Corwin: Major publisher and provider of K-12 professional development, coaching, and leadership resources, including books, courses, and consulting. Comparable as a broad incumbent in educator and leader PD with overlapping content and coaching offerings.

Direct peers

• Battelle for Kids: Nonprofit focused on K-12 leadership development and educator effectiveness, including superintendent and principal leadership networks. Directly comparable as a school-leader development provider with diagnostic tools and cohort-based programming similar to Leadership Partners' Academy and ARA.
• Education Elements: Consulting firm helping K-12 districts with personalized learning implementation, leadership coaching, and capacity building. Comparable to Leadership Partners' district consulting and custom programming line of business.
• McREL International: Nonprofit education research and consulting organization providing leadership coaching, professional development, and school improvement services. Comparable to Leadership Partners given overlapping leadership research (e.g., influence studies analogous to Leithwood's Four Paths).
• Public Impact: Education consulting and research organization focused on improving K-12 outcomes through teacher and leader support, including turnaround and staffing models. Comparable to Leadership Partners' school transformation and executive coaching work with districts.
• NewSchools Venture Fund (NewLeaders): Operates a leadership development program specifically designed to recruit and prepare principals and school leaders for high-need schools. Directly comparable to Leadership Partners' Academy model targeting campus and district leaders.
• Insight Education Group: Provides executive coaching, professional development, and school turnaround services for K-12 leaders, including customized leadership programs and principal evaluation tools. Closely comparable to Leadership Partners' executive coaching and Four Paths diagnostic offerings.
• International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE): Provides K-12 leadership development, conferences, and consulting aimed at building district and school leadership capacity. Overlaps with Leadership Partners' executive education focus on campus and district leaders facing accountability and culture challenges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-partners-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Partners