Showcasing their collaborative partnership and fearless leadership style, Harris County Department of Education Superintendent James Colbert Jr. and Attorney Sarah Langlois presented at txEDCON 2025, wrapping up a weekend in which school district administrators and board trustees across Texas gained insights into the current public education landscape, as well as HCDE and its services.

Held Sept. 11-14 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, txEDCON is the largest gathering of Texas public education decision-makers and collaboration between the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

Colbert and Langlois led a session on Sept. 13 titled, “How to Lead Fearlessly with Skilled Legal Counsel,” demonstrating how HCDE leadership cultivates a collaborative mindset and the importance of partnership between the superintendent and legal counsel in the complex landscape of public education. They shared real-life examples in action involving personnel, litigation and community conflict.

Members of Choice Partners and the Marketing and Client Engagement team showcased HCDE services at a vendor booth.

HCDE Chief of Staff Danielle Bartz also attended txEDCON receptions Sept. 11-12, where she met with Charles Butt Foundation leadership, State Board of Education Trustee Staci Childs, representatives from HillCo Partners and Strive LLC, and fellow school administrators.