LEANDER, Texas (July 28, 2026) — The Leander Chamber of Commerce brought together leaders from four area schools for its State of Education event on July 28, 2026, creating a rare public forum where traditional public, charter, and private early childhood educators shared priorities, challenges, and opportunities facing students and families across the Leander community.

The panel featured Leander ISD Superintendent Chris Clark, Founders Classical Academy Headmaster Tabitha, Leena Manwani The Learning Experience, Preschool Owner and Basis Texas Charter School Executive Director, Andrew Freeman. The conversation, moderated by Bridget Brandt Leander Chamber of Commerce President, discussed topics ranging from academic priorities to teacher recruitment, community partnerships, and civic engagement. Freeman set the tone for collaboration early, noting, “We’re all here for kids and families at the end of the day.” The room included business owners, elected officials, and community members, prompting Brandt to observe, “You’ve got literally all the people that you need for success right in front of you, so how do we make Leander the best.”

Clark outlined ambitious district initiatives, including the upcoming Fabian School for Early Childhood Learning, an expanding New Hope High School program, and an early college high school cohort that produces graduates holding associate’s degrees alongside their high school diplomas. “We had 50 something students who finished high school with an associate’s degree with only two more years when they go off to college the following year,” Clark said. “So that’s pretty astounding.” Freeman highlighted Basis’s academic intensity, noting that the network’s Cedar Park campus ranked among the top 10 public high schools in Texas and top 100 in the United States, with an average graduate completing 11 AP exams. Manwani emphasized the foundational work happening at the preschool level, pointing to an opportunity gap in the community she is actively working to close. The headmaster of Founders Classical Academy described a mission centered on virtue and citizenship, with seniors are required to write and publicly defend a 15-page thesis.

The forum closed with each panelist addressing how businesses can meaningfully support local education, from offering teacher discounts and sponsoring school programs to hiring student interns from CTE pipelines. Clark urged attendees toward civic action: “The most important thing you can do is educate yourself and vote.” The Chamber expressed that the event embodied its commitment to connecting the business community with the institutions shaping Leander’s future workforce and civic identity.