Spring 2023 ATPE News

for a Successful 7 Tips Evaluation

State and Federal 10 Understanding Advocacy for Your Retirement

Your Potential 14 Discover with Leadership ATPE

ATPE News 140 DAYS AND NIGHTS:

Use ATPE’s Advocacy Tools to Make the 88th Legislative Session Count

SPRING 2023 | ATPE.ORG

Find out how you can stay informed and support legislation that benefits your students and your profession this session.

PAGES 12–13

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ATPE News The official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators

State Officers

Stacey Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . President, Humble (4) Jayne Serna. . . . . . . . . Vice President, Leander (13) Jason Forbis. . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary, Midway (12) Jerrica Liggins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer, Paris (8) Karen Hames. . . . . . Past President, Lewisville (11)

Board of Directors

MaElena Ingram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McAllen (1) Adriane Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corpus Christi (2) Mandy Vahrenkamp. . . . . . . . . . . . Bloomington (3) Eli Rodriguez . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cypress-Fairbanks (4) Suellen Ener. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beaumont (5) Donna Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willis (6) Teresa Millard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woden (7) Abby Rogers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paris (8) Patti Gibbs. . . . . . North Central Texas College (9) Wanda Bailey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mesquite (10) Teri Naya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birdville (11) Christina Flores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belton (12) Stephanie Stoebe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Round Rock (13) Leslie Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merkel (14) Betty Gail Wood-Rush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Early (15) Sherry Boyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spearman (16) Allyson Haveman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lubbock (17) Gail Adlesperger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Spring (18) Robert Zamora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clint (19) Laura Herrera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North East (20)

ATPE News Staff

David George. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor John Kilpper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Art Director Michael Spurlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate Editor Jack Densmore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate Editor Jennifer Tuten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Editor Marjorie Parker. . . . . . . . . . . Contributing Designer Kate Johanns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editorial Director ATPE News (ISSN 0279-6260) is published quarterly in fall, winter, spring, and summer.

Subscription rates: for members of the association, $3.32 per year (included in membership dues); non-members, $10 per year. Extra copies $1.25 each. Published by the Association of Texas Professional Educators, 305 E. Huntland Drive, Suite 300, Austin, TX 787523792. Periodical postage paid at Austin, Texas, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ATPE News, 305 E. Huntland Dr., #300, Austin, TX 78752-3792. Advertising rates may be obtained by sending a written request to the above address. Opinions expressed in this publication represent the attitude of the contributor whose name appears with the article and are not necessarily the official policy of ATPE. ATPE reserves the right to refuse advertising contrary to its purpose. Copyright 2023 in USA by the Association of Texas Professional Educators ISSN ©ATPE 2023 0279-6260 USPS 578-050 305 E. Huntland Dr., Ste. 300 Austin, TX 78752-3792 (800) 777-ATPE (2873) atpe.org | atpe@atpe.org

S

pring has sprung! Can you believe we are already more than halfway through this school year? Not that I am complaining by any means, but it feels like time has flown by.

Gone are the cold, dreary days, and now we’re looking forward to the warm, sunny days of spring break before the heat waves arrive in a few short months. Make sure you take time to care for yourself because we need you to be on your game!

YOU ARE THE EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD. SO WHEN YOU CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS—AND I HOPE YOU DO—MAKE SURE TO LET THEM KNOW YOU CAN ASSIST WITH ANY QUESTION THEY MAY HAVE IN YOUR FIELD OF EXPERTISE. This issue focuses on the ongoing legislative session, which is very important to public educators. We need to be kept in the loop and informed about the decisions that affect our profession. One thing to remember is that you are the expert in your field. So when you contact your legislators—and I hope you do—make sure to let them know you can assist with any question they may have in your field of expertise. Get to know their staffers. Often they are key information conduits who help legislators make decisions in specific policy areas such as education.

Another way to be involved is to get to know your school board. In my local unit, we give each of our board members a gift subscription to ATPE News. This helps them understand who we are, what we have to offer teachers, and that we are not the bad guys. Many times, if they have questions, they will contact one of our local officers. Our superintendent is also a member, which helps a lot! Go ahead and ask to sign them up. The worst that can happen is they say no—and it might open a door of communication between your local unit and school board that was once closed.

I hope you have an amazing spring semester full of growth and celebrations.

Keep doing the amazing job you do, and know that I appreciate each and every one of you for what you do and who you are. If I can be of service, please let me know!

Stacey Ward ATPE State President

ATPE NEWS 3

Contents ATPE NEWS | Spring 2023, Volume 43, Number 3

12 FEATURES

12

On the Cover

140 Days and Nights: Use ATPE’s Advocacy Tools to Make the 88th Legislative Session Count The Texas Legislature is debating bills that will affect public education for years to come.

Find out what tools you can use to ensure lawmakers pass legislation that benefits your students and your profession.

14

Leadership ATPE: Discover Your Potential As the application process for the next Leadership ATPE cohort opens, we caught up with Leadership ATPE alumni to learn where this professional learning experience has taken them in the association and beyond.

18

Books Beginning at Birth: Improving Early Childhood Literacy One Book at a Time The Books Beginning at Birth program provides Texas families with children up to 4 years of age free access to print and digital books to support the development of early literacy skills and foster a love of reading in young children.

Learn how you can help!

4 ATPE NEWS

EVERYTHING ELSE 6 Calendar 7 Your Ally

Tips for a Successful Evaluation

8 Regional Roundup 10 Your Voice

Understanding State and Federal Advocacy for Your Retirement

11 PAC Honor Roll 22

SPECIAL SECTIONS 17 In Memoriam

Remembering Past State President Sam Spurlock

20 2023 ATPE Summit: Choose Your Own Adventure

© Fotoluminate LLC/Adobe Stock; iStock.com/Michael Burrell

Embark on new ATPE adventures during the 2023 ATPE Summit at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock. This is a summertime safari like no other.

22 In Your Neighborhood

Join us as we visit ATPE “neighborhoods” all over Texas to get an inside look at what volunteers are doing to recruit, retain, and rejoice with their fellow ATPE members.

THE ATPE VISION The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) supports the state’s largest community of educators who are dedicated to elevating public education in Texas.

24 Your ATPE

Using ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal I Wanted: Candidates for State Office I ATPE House of Delegates Meeting I Member Discount for SXSW EDU I Gen ATPE I ATPE Wellbeing Packages I Do You Enjoy Podcasts During Your Commute?

31 Volunteer Spotlight

Meet LaMarcus Wallace, transportation facilitator, treasurer for Nacogdoches ATPE, and ATPE’s 2021-22 Campus Rep of the Year for local units with 201–500 members.

“I tailor it to the individual.

I let them talk to me. I let them tell me what they’re passionate about. Then I will sell ATPE, but not before.”

— LaMarcus Wallace

31

THE ATPE MISSION ATPE advocates for educators and delivers affordable, high-quality products and services that give members the peace of mind needed to inspire student success.

ATPE NEWS 5

CALENDAR APRIL 1 Award committee meetings

April

March

1

1–3

Texas Public Schools Week

2

Texas Independence Day

5–11

School Social Worker Week

Award committee meetings: Educator of the Year and Leader of the Year

4

MAY 1–5 Teacher Appreciation Week

May 1

School Principals’ Day

1–5

Teacher Appreciation Week

5

School Lunch Hero Day

School Librarian Appreciation Day

11–14

State Board of Education meeting

7

State office closed for Good Friday

10

School Nurse Day

19–20

6–9

20

Volunteer Recognition Day

ATPE Board of Directors meeting

12

26

29

15

28

SXSW EDU 2023 Daylight saving time begins State officer nominations due to state office

Administrative Assistant Day State Board for Educator Certification meeting

State office closed for Memorial Day

29

Sine die for the 88th Legislature

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Kalahari Resorts and Conventions | Round Rock | July 10–12, 2023

6 ATPE NEWS

© Александр Бердюгин/Adobe Stock; © iStockphoto.com/StudioBarcelona; © iStockphoto.com/AlexandrBognat

MARCH 1–3 Texas Public Schools Week

YOUR ALLY

Tips for a Successful Evaluation

E

BY LANCE CAIN ATPE Managing Attorney

mployee evaluations occur throughout the school year via walkthroughs and classroom observations. But the spring semester is when the evaluation process really intensifies.

Teacher evaluations are compiled and finalized into summative annual appraisals, and other employees typically receive end-of-year evaluations during this time. Our website atpe.org contains detailed information regarding evaluations, but the following is practical advice on what to expect and how to deal with unforeseen evaluation results.

or necessary to have a pre-conference, but that makes it even more crucial to keep lines of communication open with your appraiser throughout the year. Evaluations should be based on what your appraiser knows about your performance, so let them know about the positive contributions you make. This is not to suggest daily updates. But if your appraiser is familiar with your good work, you are less likely to be surprised with a negative evaluation.

Be Prepared

So what happens if you disagree with the results?

It is always difficult for anyone to read negative criticism of their work, especially if you feel it is unfair. But it can be helpful not to overreact and instead take a few hours or perhaps a day to reflect.

Although evaluations are based on objective metrics, they are also based in part on your appraiser’s opinion of your performance. So all may not be lost.

One practical option is discussing the evaluation with your appraiser. It is entirely possible they may have missed aspects of your lesson or aren’t fully aware of all your contributions. Teachers can use the T-TESS post-conference as an opportunity to discuss the results. Otherwise, you may need to schedule a meeting.

Bring supporting data and remain professional as you make your case. Not taking the evaluation personally can help you remain objective. The T-TESS—in particular—is a system that stresses continuous growth. Therefore, many appraisers are cautious not to initially award scores that would be hard to improve on.

Hopefully, a conversation with your appraiser will allow you to find common ground where you can feel comfortable with the final results. If not, there are several approaches for you to consider.

Reviewing your district’s evaluation policy is a good way to prepare. Many districts use the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), but districts can use their own system as well.

The T-TESS generally only applies to teachers, so non-teachers will likely be evaluated differently.

Good communication is a key component in preparing for any evaluation. The T-TESS takes it a step further by requiring collaboration between the teacher and appraiser in goal setting and professional development, as well as requiring a pre- and post-evaluation conference. Those evaluated under the T-TESS should take advantage of these opportunities to discuss shared goals and learn your appraiser’s expectations. The pre-conference can be especially important in discussing the upcoming lesson and gauging what your appraiser is looking for.

That is not always easy. Administrators can be busy or hard to pin down, and this can come off as being uninterested or even rude. But do your best to follow up with them and have a professional discussion about wanting to succeed at your job.

Hopefully, finding common ground with your appraiser will reflect positively on your results.

The same goes for employees not evaluated with the T-TESS. It may not always be feasible

Don’t Overreact

continued on page 28

The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

ATPE NEWS 7

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Kansas

T

here are more than a thousand school districts in Texas and each one has success stories. Regional Roundup highlights some of the achievements happening in our public schools.

When something special happens in your school district, let us know! Send news to comm@atpe.org.

Oklahoma

4

5

TYLER

ARP

1 2

ROUND ROCK

AUSTIN

3 HOUSTON

Gulf of Mexic

8 ATPE NEWS

From Across the State Round Rock ISD Launches 1 Work Perk Program

In order to recognize the hard work of its staff, Round Rock ISD has created a Work Perk program offering employees free, discounted, or special services. Round Rock ISD is currently searching for businesses that would like to participate in the program. For more information—including the terms of use—visit the RRISD website.

“The district is committed to finding ways to enhance the total rewards package that RRISD employees can benefit from,” Chief Human Resources Officer Eddie Curran says. “Partnering with businesses to provide staff discounts is one way to accomplish that. Ultimately, we want our staff to feel appreciated for their hard work, and being able to provide discounts on local services is a great way to do so.”

Arkansas

roundrockisd.org

Louisiana Photos courtesy of © dizain/Adobe Stock, Leander ISD, © Jane Kelly/Adobe Stock, Tyler ISD and Gary McDonald.

co

HEADLI N ES

Vandegrift High School Band 2 Performs at Thanksgiving

Day Parade

One Leander ISD high school band from Austin got the opportunity of a lifetime to perform in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Vandegrift High School’s band was originally set to perform in the parade the year prior, but COVID-19 delayed those plans to 2022. The band played Symphony No. 4 and the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky, which could be heard bouncing off the New York City buildings to a crowd of thousands. leanderisd.org

ouston ISD Police Launch 3 HEvidence Submission Portal

With threats to schools always on their radar, Houston ISD Police Department officials have launched a new crime reporting system so the public can report incidents on HISD campuses.

The Axon Citizen Portal is active and available on the HISD police department website. This new system allows citizens to submit video evidence for police review.

“Confidence in the police department improves community interactions, enhances communication, and promotes shared responsibility for addressing crime and disorder,” HISD Police Chief Pedro Lopez said in a HISD press release. houstonisd.org

Tyler ISD Opens Salon for 4 Cosmetology Students

Tyler ISD’s Career & Technology Center opened its new cosmetology salon to the public Dec. 10, and it is open from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays. The salon provides valuable hands-on experience for seniors in Tyler ISD’s cosmetology program who are pursuing a professional barber or cosmetology license.

“By having real clients in their chairs, our students continue to hone their expertise,” cosmetology teacher and instructional lead Leslie Pryor says. tylerisd.org

Arp ISD Aids Coach Who 5 Lost Home to Fire

After Arp High School assistant coach Winston Butler and his mother, Dorene Freeney, lost their home to a fire on Thanksgiving, Arp ISD asked for donations to aid in their recovery. More information on how to donate is available on Arp ISD’s website, including clothing sizes for those wishing to donate clothes.

The Arp community has already helped with donations through monetary means, food, and clothing.

“Thus far, the support given to this family has been incredible,” Arp ISD Superintendent Shannon Arrington says. “What an amazing family of Arp Tigers we have.” arpisd.org

ATPE NEWS 9

YOUR VOICE

Understanding State and Federal Advocacy for Your Retirement

J

BY MONTY EXTER ATPE Governmental Relations Director

10 ATPE NEWS

anuary brought the start of a new legislative session, here in Texas and in Washington, D.C. Both the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress play a role in shaping your retirement as a Texas educator. Understanding the basic policy issues that impact your Teacher Retirement System (TRS) of Texas annuity and Social Security is the first step to effectively advocating for greater retirement security. This includes understanding provisions that limit potential benefits, who controls retirement issues, and that teacher retirement issues are—as a whole—inherently political.

In the simplest terms, TRS pensions can be broken down into three factors: benefits, contributions, and investments. Of the three, the Texas Legislature controls two: the benefits formula and contributions by employers and employees. TRS manages the third—investment of the pension fund. In this case, your benefit is your monthly retirement check, and the formula that determines your benefit is 100% governed by the Legislature—not by TRS. Lawmakers decide what will be your multiplier (a percentage used in calculation of your monthly benefit amount), when you can start receiving retirement benefits, whether you are subject to an early retirement penalty, and whether you will get a cost-ofliving adjustment (COLA) or 13th check.

Unlike most educators around the country who pay into both a government-funded pension and Social Security, most Texas educators do not pay into Social Security while working in TRS-covered positions. That means any Social Security payments most Texas educators do receive—either of their own from a different job or their spousal Social Security benefits—are subject to a reduction due to either the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The WEP reduces a retiree’s own Social Security, whereas the GPO reduces the amount of spousal Social Security to which a retiree would otherwise be entitled. You can learn more about the details of the WEP and the GPO at TeachtheVote.org/retirement.

ATPE supports increasing educators’ retirement income through both TRS at the state level and Social Security at the federal level. We support

increasing TRS benefits through passage of a 13th check (an extra one-time payment beyond the regular 12 monthly payments), a COLA, or an increase in the multiplier. We support increasing educators’ access to Social Security by repealing— or, at least in the short term, reforming—the WEP and/or GPO. Although ATPE supports increasing both state and federal retirement benefits, there are some differences to understand between the two programs. Most educators get decidedly more income from their TRS pension, so protecting and increasing TRS pensions is likely to provide more income to retirees.

Additionally, the Texas Legislature has a pretty good recent track record of passing positive legislation when it comes to the TRS pension, whether increasing the fund’s contribution rate, which facilitates higher benefit payments, or providing retirees with 13th checks. In contrast, neither political party has been able to pass federal legislation to repeal—or even reform—the WEP or GPO in more than 40 years. This might be because the WEP and GPO do not directly impact retired educators in most other states, so their federal legislators do not have the same vested interest as Texans do in repealing the law.

While increasing TRS retirement benefits and repealing the WEP/GPO are both very expensive propositions, a critical difference is the TRS pension is already actuarially sound (meaning it has enough assets to pay out its promised benefits), but the Social Security trust fund is not. It would be cheaper to increase state benefits without harming the TRS pension fund’s health than to repeal the WEP and GPO without hurting the Social Security pension fund.

The good news is that ATPE has made it easy for you to advocate for either a TRS COLA or repealing the WEP. Members have access to ATPE’s Advocacy Central, where you can reach your state or federal elected officials in just a few simple clicks. And, of course, ATPE’s lobby team in Austin and in Washington, D.C. will continue to advocate for these and all priorities ATPE members have adopted through the ATPE Legislative Program.

PAC HONOR ROLL

Thank you for your investment in Texas public education.

Round Rock CaRita Forte San Antonio Byron Hildebrand Spearman Sherry Boyd

The following ATPE members donated $50 or more to the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.

Tyler Betty Berndt Woden Teresa Millard

ATPE Staff Kelly Curtis Shannon Holmes Kate Johanns Jennifer Tuten Mary Jane Waits Retired Deryl Elms Jo-Sandra Greenberg

Ysleta Jennifer Adams Abilene Tonja Gray

Cypress-Fairbanks Eli Rodriguez

Melissa Walcik Ron Walcik

Navasota Susan Ambrus

Alief Barbara Lebold

Dallas Maria Slette

Klein Marsi Thomas

Alvin Ron Fitzwater

Everman Steve Pokluda

Krum Betty Plunkett

New Waverly Gidget Belinoski-Bailey

Amarillo Blythe Chapman Michael Renteria Jamie Ried Shane Whitten

Falls City Phyllis Jarzombek

La Academia de Estrellas Deborah Pleasant

Ballinger Darlene Kelly

Hale Center Lynette Ginn

Leander Jayne Serna

Olney Dale Lovett Becky Spurlock Samuel Spurlock

Boerne Ona Beth Day Richard Wiggins

Houston Jason Orlando

McAllen Twila Figueroa MaElena Ingram

Paris Jerrica Liggins Abby Rogers

Mesquite Erin Smith

Plano Caryn Bartle Collin Mehta Lindsay Robinson Dennise Schuler

Galena Park Sharon Dixon Lynn Nutt

Lamesa Abigail Ramford

Bruceville-Eddy Ruth Mullins

Humble Gayle Sampley Stacey Ward

Community Wendy Smith

Ingram Roger Moralez

Midland Michelle Adams

Corpus Christi Rose Perez Barbara Ruiz

Keller David Williams

Midway (12) Shawn Bailey Jason Forbis

Corsicana Julleen Bottoms Crowley Sara Connaway

Killeen Kiree Bons Emily Fortune Ina Rivera Eileen Walcik

Nacogdoches Katherine Whitbeck

North Lamar Shelia Slider Northside (20) David de la Garza

Riesel Stacey Dieterich Rosebud-Lott Beverly Bredemeyer Karen Heugatter Jennifer Lorenz

ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPEPAC is voluntary.

ATPE NEWS 11

140 DAYS AND NIGHTS:

Use ATPE’s Advocacy Tools to Make the 88th Legislative Session Count YOUR ADVOCACY TOOLKIT WHEN YOU NEED INFORMATION:

WHEN YOU WANT LIVE UPDATES:

As a public education advocate, your first and perhaps most important session task is staying informed about education issues and the actions of legislators and policy makers. ATPE’s education-focused advocacy site TeachtheVote.org is your one-stop shop for the latest news. ATPE’s team of dedicated lobbyists diligently covers the latest developments and provides detailed analysis on the Teach the Vote Advocacy blog. ATPE members receive an email each Friday containing the week’s news, but you can also encourage your nonmember colleagues to visit TeachtheVote.org to sign up for the Teach the Vote Week in Review email. Teach the Vote also provides overviews of the biggest issues facing educators and ATPE’s positions on said issues. Also on Teach the Vote: profiles of each officeholder providing a snapshot of their past education support (or lack thereof ).

Legislative action moves quickly, especially the later we get into the session. Follow ATPE Governmental Relations team members on Twitter for live tweets from committee hearings, coverage of floor action, and more: ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter @ATPE_MontyE, Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins @MarkWigginsTX, and Staff Lobbyist Tricia Cave @tdcave. (Be sure to follow @OfficialATPE and @TeachtheVote, too.)

TEACHTHEVOTE.ORG

OUR MEMBER-ADOPTED ATPE  READ LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM to learn more about our positions on numerous issues that affect professional educators at atpe.org/legislative-program.

12 ATPE NEWS

TWITTER

E

very January in odd-numbered years, legislators descend upon Austin for a 140-day law-making frenzy. Thousands of bills are filed—and a similar number of lobbyists and stakeholder groups show up in Austin as well, jockeying to see their priorities make it to the governor’s desk and be signed into law.

But few bills cross the finish line. How can a public educator like you make sure the legislation that does pass will benefit students? It’s easier than you think with ATPE’s suite of member advocacy tools at your disposal.

WHEN YOU’RE ON THE GO:

THE ATPE PODCAST Whether you’re commuting or cleaning the house, a good podcast makes the time pass quickly—and you can expand your knowledge of important issues by listening to the legislative episodes of The ATPE Podcast. ATPE lobbyists detail the current events happening in the Legislature and break down complex issues in a way that is easy to understand. Visit atpe.org/podcast for the latest episode or subscribe via your favorite podcast service.

WHEN YOU NEED TO SPEAK YOUR MIND:

ADVOCACY CENTRAL By voicing your stance on the issues, you can make an impact as lawmakers debate and vote on legislation.

The easiest way to accomplish this is through ATPE’s Advocacy Central, a member-exclusive tool that makes it simple to contact your elected representatives. Log in to atpe.org/Advocacy-Central to explore tools you can use to influence legislation.

Search for your elected officials by entering your ZIP code under “Find Officials.” Advocacy Central will then show you a directory of your elected representatives with links to their contact information. The site also allows you to search, view, and track both state and federal legislation, with daily updates on the progress of each bill.

Most importantly, it contains a list of advocacy campaigns related to specific legislation or policy matters. These campaigns allow you to read ATPE’s stance on the issue and send a message directly to the officials who will be voting on the bill. Use sample email messages, tweets, and phone scripts provided by ATPE if you’re short on time, or put them in your own words for a more personalized appeal. The site also includes a video tutorial that will guide you through all of these features.

ATPE NEWS 13

LEADERSHIP ATPE:

DISCOVER YOUR POTENTIAL

BY JENNIFER TUTEN

L

aunched in 2018, Leadership ATPE is a dynamic one-year program designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills, knowledge, and best practices needed to serve the association, their school districts, and their communities.

Leadership ATPE takes place every two years, and the next training academy will begin in August. Applications will be accepted through May 26, and applicants who are selected will be notified of acceptance the week of June 26. Participants will attend two expense-paid leadership retreats, where they will receive training from experts in the fields of education, advocacy, nonprofit management, and more.

ATPE caught up with a few participants from previous cohorts to ask about their experience with the program.

Region 3 ATPE Director Mandy Vahrenkamp was selected to join the inaugural class back in 2018. “Leadership ATPE was something new … and it was going to give me the opportunity to make more connections with educators, along with being able to see how state officers serve the organization.” Vahrenkamp says the

14 ATPE NEWS

program has helped her become a better leader in her classroom, on her campus, and within ATPE. Nacogdoches ATPE President Roya Dinbali was no stranger to ATPE leadership (or leadership in general) when she applied for the program. Outside of ATPE, she volunteers for various programs on her own campus and within the community, including the National Honor Society, the School Health Advisory Council, and the local humane society.

“When I first heard about Leadership ATPE, I was curious,” Dinbali says. ”But because I wasn’t new to ATPE, I wasn’t sure if I was the right candidate. My regional membership specialist Ginger Franks encouraged me to apply.”

The experience paid off for Dinbali: “I’ve always known I like to lead, and Leadership ATPE assured me I was on the right track.”

In contrast, Region 10 ATPE Vice President Clarice Cross saw Leadership ATPE as an opportunity to come out of her shell and the impetus to pursue new volunteer roles within the association: “I started out timid—I would mostly stick with my group. After I completed the program, I felt I was ready to run for region office. All those leadership skills I gained gave me

Leadership ATPE participants attend two expense-paid weekend learning retreats where they connect with fellow emerging leaders and collaborate on projects that prepare them for leadership within ATPE and beyond. Pictured is 2021-22 cohort member Juaquin Zavala presenting his group’s project. Learn more about Leadership ATPE and other ATPE volunteer opportunities at atpe.org/volunteers.

the courage to branch out. Before, I was a ‘background person.’”

Before applying for the program, Cross had served as a campus representative and later as Allen ATPE’s local unit president. “I felt partially prepared as a leader, so when I heard the application period had opened up for Leadership ATPE, I asked about it, applied, got accepted, and was super excited but also thought a little to myself, ‘What am I getting into?’”

Cross quickly embraced Leadership ATPE and now promotes it at every opportunity.

Her favorite part of the experience was the camaraderie with fellow educators from around the state. Those relationships extended beyond the program, and she and fellow members would often share the struggles they were experiencing in the classroom. “It helped to have that connection with people and see that we’re all together in this, trying to balance things, not just at school or within ATPE, but also with our families.”

Region 13 ATPE Director Stephanie Stoebe applied for Leadership ATPE because she was interested in growing her capacity as a leader, specifically within ATPE. “I wanted to make sure that I

I CREDIT LEADERSHIP ATPE FOR MY GROWTH. IF YOU’RE AN EDUCATOR AND YOU ARE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT AN ISSUE, PLEASE REALIZE THAT YOU CAN BE THAT SOMEBODY. — Stephanie Stoebe, Region 13 ATPE Director

represented the organization, educators, and even students the best that I could.

Every educator has a voice, and I wanted to make sure that not only my voice was heard, but also those of others with whom I work in this ever-changing and demanding profession.”

Stoebe adds: “Aside from the work on something that I was passionate about, I

loved being part of a professional community inside of a professional community!

There were educators from all across Texas, and it was so rewarding to hear their voices. Texas is huge! We need to hear about the towns as small as Dime Box to cities as large as Dallas.

When the Legislature or TEA imposes rules or laws on our profession, it impacts communities differently.”

Region 16 ATPE President Michael Renteria also built rapport quickly with fellow participants: “We became family over the course of our first weekend together. And, as I think about my experience with ATPE from the beginning, it is all about family.

The family dynamic is what continues to drive my dedication to the organization.”

Leadership ATPE members put that rapport to work as they collaborate on various projects that empower them to implement much-needed solutions in their own school districts.

Cross says: “As a group project, we had to identify a problem and brainstorm solutions—our group tackled teacher shortages. We discussed reasons why teachers are leaving the profession and some possible solutions. There’s not going to be

ATPE NEWS 15

HOW TO APPLY FOR LEADERSHIP ATPE The 2021-22 Leadership ATPE cohort gathers for a group photo at Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station.

an overnight solution, but some possible solutions that districts could try to retain teachers and encourage people to come into the profession. It was good to work in a group setting and get new ideas from people from all over, then take those ideas back to our campuses.”

Stoebe’s group completed a project called “Do Educators Have Free Speech?”

In their research and presentation, the group focused on how many professionals in education feel discouraged from discussing educational issues or political topics.

“They fear suppression or even retaliation from school and district leaders,” Stoebe says. “We talked about the dos and don’ts of voicing an opinion, the importance of always being professional, and even legal cases promoting free speech for educators. Of course, we also talked about ATPE’s stance on this topic. When leading any organization, it is imperative that your work and speech supports their mission and values.”

PROGRAM PREPARATION Dinbali is always eager to share with others the value of her Leadership ATPE experience, whether a fellow member is looking for leadership opportunities within the association or looking to advance in their career outside ATPE: “If you have leadership ambitions, especially if you’d like to become an ATPE state officer, you’ll really get a lot out of the program. I learned a lot about myself 16 ATPE NEWS

and my leadership style, and I got to meet a lot of great people from all over Texas.”

Cross agrees: “I recommend Leadership ATPE whether you’ve been a member for 20 years or five years.”

Cross also wants others to know what to expect going into the program. “Going in, realize that you’re going to have to dedicate some time. It’s a unique experience, and it is definitely worth your time and effort. Go in with an open mind. Be willing to share; every local unit does things differently, and sharing those thought processes and best practices helps so much across the board. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. I just love the program in general. I think it’s awesome.”

Stoebe adds: “If a person is interested in applying, I would recommend that they first think about ways in which they would like to lead, especially within ATPE. I am comfortable speaking in front of large crowds and being interviewed by lawmakers. I can think on my feet and candidly bring the realities of the classroom into any discussion. Many of my friends in ATPE are more interested in serving as a local or region officer. Leaders in this capacity are critical to our growth and success. My advice is to think about skills that you have now but also think about the skills that you want to grow in. Leadership ATPE will prepare you for that next step.”

Renteria encourages applicants to reflect on three questions: What are you continued on page 28

Applications for Leadership ATPE will open March 27 at atpe.org/leadership-atpe.

Applicants must have been an ATPE member for at least two years, including the current 2022-23 membership year.

The following members are ineligible to apply: current or past members of the ATPE Board of Directors, current or past state officers, retired members, public members, college student members, and student teacher members of ATPE. Applicants selected for the Leadership ATPE class must commit to participating in two mandatory weekend training retreats during the program year.

Applicants must pay an application fee. Payment is due at the time of submission of the online application. All other program expenses, including study materials and travel costs for the fall and spring retreats, will be covered by ATPE. At the time of the application, all applicants must certify that they have read all requirements of the program and will commit to attending both weekend training retreats and participating in all assignments during the program year.

Visit atpe.org/leadership-atpe for more details and to download the application. If you have questions about Leadership ATPE, please contact ATPE Membership Director Joy England at jengland@atpe.org.

IN MEMORIAM

1954–2023

In Memoriam: ATPE Past State President Sam Spurlock ATPE is saddened to share news of the passing of Past State President Sam Spurlock on Jan. 17, 2023. Spurlock served as the association’s 2009-10 state president.

Born Nov. 22, 1954, in Mineral Wells, Spurlock was a proud graduate of Texas A&M University and married Rebecca Messenger on March 22, 1981, in Longview. He began his education career teaching agriculture in Kilgore, but the Spurlock family moved to Olney in 1989, and he taught science at Olney Junior High School for the next 33 years until his retirement. He also served as student council sponsor.

His LinkedIn profile stated: “I am a classroom teacher of 35 years and have had the opportunity to help shape the minds of over 3,000 young people. My

wish is that each and every single one of them carried something from my classroom that impacted their lives in a positive way. Education is my passion.”

Not only did Spurlock positively shape the lives of his students, but also he was a giant among ATPE volunteers, inspiring a generation of leadership across the state. “Sam was an encourager,” says Dale Lovett, Spurlock’s friend, fellow Region 9 ATPE leader, and Olney colleague.

“He would push other people to do things they didn’t have the confidence to do themselves.”

Past State President David de la Garza served as state vice president during Spurlock’s term as state president. “I met Sam on the campaign trail, when we ran against each other,” de la Garza recalls. “I don’t think he ever met a stranger. We instantly became friends.

He was always willing to share and give good advice and introduce me to people I didn’t know.”

Spurlock’s mentorship was served up with a generous side of humor. ATPE member Scotte Clark, minister of Hamilton Street Church of Christ, recounted many of Spurlock’s witticisms at his funeral service, as well as just a few instances of his quiet, diligent service to others. Spurlock brought this approach to leadership to ATPE. “As a board member and an officer, Sam always thought through every issue we faced,” retired ATPE Executive Director Doug Rogers says.

“His dedication to the membership was second to none, and he was always willing to support other regions and local units as much as he did Region 9 and Olney.”

Service as an ATPE state officer is a tremendous time commitment, and the bonds formed by those who serve together are strong and deep.

Past State President Cindy Chapman recalls a state officer tradition Spurlock eschewed: sharing desserts.

“My group liked to order our desserts and then pass them around,” Chapman says. “We each got a bite, then we enjoyed the rest of our own. Sam, however, was shocked. He did not want to share any of his, even if it meant not trying others. He would put his hands around his to protect it from being taken by us. I will say this tradition ended with him. He took presidential privilege to protect desserts from here on out! So I know he is enjoying his heavenly desserts as only he can.

“He was deeply devoted to his wife, his family, his church, his students, and ATPE. I was honored to serve with him and call him my friend. Go rest high, Sam.” ATPE NEWS 17

It is never too early to get children interested in reading—but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than one in three American children start kindergarten without the skills they need to learn to read. For almost 50 years, BookSpring, a Central Texas-based nonprofit, has been working to change that in communities across the state. In 2022, the organization launched the Books Beginning at Birth statewide program, offering Texas families with children up to four years of age free access to print and digital books to promote reading at home.

Improving Early Childhood Literacy One Book at a Time

By David George

B

ooks Beginning at Birth provides resources to families living in low socioeconomic areas in order to support the development of early literacy skills and foster a love of reading in young children.

Just as you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, young children must also develop certain skills before they can learn to read. The term “emergent literacy” refers to laying the foundation required to grow children’s vocabulary and understanding of letter-sound connections in preparation for them to read on their own.

Idali Reyes is an early childhood coordinator with BookSpring who corresponds with interested partners, such as preschools, nonprofits, and state agencies, to distribute books to families in the program.

“There is research behind this idea of reading to your child daily at as early an age as possible,” Reyes says. “We recommend 10–20 minutes each day so that they are able to increase their letter vocabulary recognition, as well as make connections between the stories and what they experience in real life.”

As a young child’s brain develops, it begins to process language. When we read to young children, we help build and reenforce their understanding of what they are hearing and seeing.

“Providing young children with opportunities to develop early literacy skills is important to their success in school and in life,” Reyes says. “I think the hope for reading with younger children is to keep those habits with them throughout their careers in school.”

THE BOOKS BEGINNING AT BIRTH PROGRAM Books Beginning at Birth is a statewide program that has delivered over 53,000 books to children across Texas. Families can apply to receive books in the mail by visiting www.b3tx.org. The website contains all sorts of literacy resources designed to help families develop strong reading habits, including a free digital library filled with hundreds of high-quality, age-appropriate books and at-home literacy activities.

18 ATPE NEWS

“The Books Beginning at Birth program is designed to increase early literacy through encouraging families to read together every day,” Reyes says. “We provide books in English and Spanish, and if we are able to, we also can provide books in other languages.”

The program aims to empower children in underserved communities by mailing individually curated and culturally diverse books directly to their homes in a variety of language options. The digital library platform has even more books available in Arabic, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and more.

The Books Beginning at Birth program also facilitates family book clubs designed to provide parents with tips on reading with their children and helping them select books based on their child’s interests. And for each class they attend, families receive a free book to take home.

“When families attend these book clubs, each little session is a topic,” Reyes says. “For example, one class is about repetition, another about storytelling, and another about emotion.”

BookSpring has also created two programs for emergent school-age readers known as Books for Me and Early Books for Me. In these programs, Reyes and other coordinators work with school librarians to put together themed activities for their students, such as read-alongs.

“We may do a camping theme or travel the world—whatever the librarian chooses,” Reyes says. “We read books based on that theme, and then, we let them pick out a free book.

It goes on for a whole day because we’re doing each class in the library.”

Families can sign up for any of the BookSpring programs at bookspring.org. If one of your students’ families would like to participate, you can fill out the sign-up form for the child.

Just check the box indicating you have parental permission to submit the form.

“The only requirement for families with the Books Beginning at Birth program is that they watch a short video—about three minutes long—that gives an overview of the program, navigating the website, and tips that they can start using to increase reading readiness with their children,” Reyes says.

HOW YOU CAN HELP BookSpring is always looking for volunteer support for its reading programs, and a sign-up calendar on the BookSpring website shows monthly events and opportunities to get involved.

Just click on the Support tab on the homepage and choose Volunteer. From there, you start the registration process by submitting an application.

“Some of the volunteer activities that we have for people are local events,” Reyes says. “So we sometimes ask for additional volunteer support for book distribution or with the readalouds that we do in schools.”

Other opportunities include picking up and delivering boxes of books, sorting and labeling books, creating written or video book reviews for the website and social media, and recording video read-alouds for young children.

“Books Beginning at Birth requires a massive community effort to reach families all over Texas,” Reyes says. “Not every person is reachable through online means or even a phone call, so we need help spreading the word. You can serve as a reading advocate and encourage families or even help them sign up for our programs.”

On www.b3tx.org, click the Advocates tab for downloadable flyers and other information for teachers interested in sharing and distributing information on this program to families in their districts. You can support the program financially online.

“We need to help everyone get books,” Reyes says. “Especially now that books, as we’ve seen, are only getting more and more expensive. The program is a resource available for families to get free books, and we want to make sure that everyone is able to hear about it.”

BookSpring invites community groups, prekindergarten programs, childcare centers, and health clinics to partner with their programs to give young children access to books and begin developing strong reading habits.

The Books Beginning at Birth program has already reached over 37,000 underserved children statewide, and with the continued support of volunteers, reading advocates, parents, and educators, the program can help many more families to develop strong reading habits at home.

ATPE NEWS 19

2023 CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE KALAHARI RESORTS AND CONVENTIONS JULY 10–12 | ROUND ROCK

Embark on new ATPE adventures during the 2023 ATPE Summit at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

This is a summertime safari like no other.

DETAILS TO COME AT ATPESUMMIT.ORG

20 ATPE NEWS

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2023 ATPE SUMMIT

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

MAP OUT THE FUTURE OF ATPE: Use your educator voice during

10 a.m.

Registration opens

the ATPE House of Delegates, when delegates will approve ATPE’s legislative program and elect the 2023-24 state officers.

TAKE PRIDE IN OUR SUCCESSES: Be inspired by the educational and leadership accomplishments of outstanding ATPE members.

CHART NEW PATHS: Expand your mind with curated professional learning sessions providing an opportunity to earn up to seven hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit.

EXPLORE ATPE’S MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: Learn the latest about ATPE’s membership offerings and strategies you can use in your school district to strengthen the association’s voice.

SAY “HAKUNA MATATA”: We all know it means “no worries,” and Kalahari is an excellent place to take it easy. The resort features America’s largest indoor waterpark, themed escape rooms, and 80,000 square feet of attractions and activities at Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park!

Subject to Change

MONDAY, JULY 10

2–3 p.m.

Volunteer training sessions 3:15–4:45 p.m.

Membership & marketing general session/ Leader of the Year Awards 5–6 p.m.

Opening keynote speaker: Monica Genta 8–9:30 p.m.

Welcome reception

TUESDAY, JULY 11

8–9:30 a.m.

Legislative update/Advocacy Awards 9:45–11:15 a.m.

House of Delegates (candidate speeches) 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

State officer elections

OPENING KEYNOTE: “180 DAYS OF AWESOME” WITH MONICA GENTA Monica Genta’s goal is to transform teachers, leaders, and schools from seeing education as an ordinary job into an extraordinary adventure. Genta feels every person who walks into a school deserves to love their experience!

She is a believer in finding awesome and celebrating life every day. Genta is a classroom teacher of 14 years and the author of five books, including Game Changers, 180 Days of Awesome, and The Rooted Classroom.

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Region caucuses 2:30 p.m.–completion House of Delegates Evening Evening on your own to explore Kalahari

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

8–10:15 a.m.

Professional learning breakouts 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Closing keynote/Educator of the Year Awards

ATPE NEWS 21

ATPE invites you to join us as we visit “neighborhoods” all over Texas. Get an inside look at what ATPE volunteers across the state are doing to recruit, retain, and rejoice with their fellow ATPE members!

In Your Neighborhood: ATPE Stories from Your Communities

22 ATPE NEWS

Region 20 Region 20 ATPE officers prepared to get down to business before holding their region meeting. Pictured left to right: David de la Garza, Juaquin Zavala, Evelyn Miles-Hoskin, Elizabeth Turner, and John Milner.

Wichita Falls ATPE Wichita Falls ATPE held a member appreciation event at Kung Fu Tea. Those who attended received a free beverage courtesy of the local unit.

Northside ATPE Northside ATPE presented Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods with a check for Northside Threads, which helps provide NISD students and families with clothing in an effort to increase school attendance.

Region 4 Members of Galena Park, Channelview, and Deer Park ATPE gathered for the Region 4 Mix & Jingle at Iguana Joe’s in Houston.

University of Houston– Downtown (UHD) ATPE UHD ATPE members got together Nov. 21, 2022, to celebrate “Friendsgiving” and plan their membership recruitment efforts.

ATPE NEWS 23

YOUR ATPE Photo by Tico Mendoza

Official Notice of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the ATPE House of Delegates The ATPE House of Delegates will meet July 11 during the 2023 ATPE Summit at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock.

Delegates will adopt the 2023-24 ATPE Legislative Program and elect the 2023-24 ATPE state officers. The delegate certification deadline will be June 9. Please contact your local unit president (or region president, if you are an at-large member) if you are interested in serving as a delegate.

This notice is published pursuant to Article IX, Section 4, of the ATPE State Bylaws.

ATPE Member Discount for SXSW EDU ATPE and SXSW EDU are once again partnering to provide ATPE members with a discounted rate of up to 50% off the walk-up rate for SXSW EDU 2023 and SXSW badges.

SXSW EDU 2023 will take place March 6–9 and features four days of compelling sessions, indepth workshops, engaging learning experiences, mentorship, film screenings, startup events, policy discussions, competitions, exhibition, networking, and so much more.

As an added benefit, many of these sessions qualify for CPE credit, redeemable through the ATPE Professional Learning Portal!

We’re excited to help as many ATPE members attend SXSW EDU as possible, and we encourage you to take advantage of this benefit. There is no minimum, maximum, or immediate purchase necessary, but you must be an active ATPE member.

To receive your discounted rate, complete the request form at atpe.org/SXSW (login required).

Instructions for redeeming this exclusive ATPE member benefit will be listed in the description.

To take advantage of this offer, eligible ATPE members should complete the form no later than Feb. 24, 2023.

For questions about logging in to your member account on the ATPE website, call (800) 777-2873 or email members@atpe.org.

24 ATPE NEWS

YOUR ATPE

Wanted: Candidates for State Office ATPE is accepting nominations for state officer positions until March 15. If you think you’ve got what it takes to lead our association, then we want to hear from you. Contact staff liaison Bret Messer at bmesser@atpe.org to learn more about qualifications and how to run for office.

A candidate for ATPE state office must be an active professional, administrator, associate, or retired member of the association and must currently be serving, or must have served within the past five years, as a local unit, region, or state officer within ATPE.

2022–23 ATPE state officers

ATPE Wellbeing Packages The past few years have brought new and previously unimaginable challenges to educators and their families. That’s why ATPE now offers ATPE Wellbeing Packages for members and their families.

The ATPE Wellbeing Package is available to members for $7.50 per month, plus a one-time $3.95 fee. This package provides access to: Counseling sessions from the comfort of home. Evaluations are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The LifeSpeak library of educational videos from the world’s leading experts on mental health, stress management, financial health, infertility, and more.

Prescription discounts through New Benefits Rx, allowing program participants to save 10% to 85% on most prescriptions at 60,000 retail pharmacies nationwide and through home delivery.

An online financial wellness center and the opportunity to call a financial counselor.

The ATPE Wellbeing Plus Package is available for $9.50 per month, plus a one-time $3.95 fee. In addition to the base package benefits, this package includes: Access to fertility, surrogacy, and adoption support by WINFertility to guide you through the challenges of a third-party journey to parenthood. Support includes education, resources, and medical discounts, as well as the opportunity to work with a nurse care manager as you explore fertility treatment options.

Caregiver support to help you manage the responsibilities of caring for family members at all ages of life. Support is available through three services: a web-based platform for storing vital medical information, coordinating with care team members, and sharing updates with family; a companionship and task assistance service; and a legal document creation service.

For more information about these packages and to enroll, please log in to the ATPE Member Discounts page at atpe.org/discounts.

ATPE NEWS 25

YOUR ATPE

Here are four things to know about using this member resource:

1

Course access is included in your membership.

Access to the PL Portal is one of your ATPE membership benefits. All you need to do is log in to atpe.org/cpe and click the “Continue to the Portal” option. That’s it; you’re in! Note: Members must access the portal through atpe.org, not a bookmarked link.

2 Using ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal As an ATPE member, you have access to our online Professional Learning (PL) Portal, where you can earn continuing professional education (CPE) hours on your own time.

You worked hard to earn your teaching certificate. Now, as you work hard in the classroom for Texas students, it’s important to keep up certain requirements for when you need to renew your certificate—and ATPE can help!

Every Texas educator holding a standard certificate must complete a minimum number of CPE hours through approved providers every five years for certification renewal purposes. (Visit tea.texas.gov for full details.) Luckily, you can earn many of these CPE credits on your own time via on-demand courses on our PL Portal.

We have more than 180 courses available.

As an educator, your schedule is already packed, and completing CPE hours on top of that can seem overwhelming— but have no fear because ATPE currently has more than 180 courses available to members. We have dozens of SXSW EDU sessions going back to 2016. The portal includes several presentations from ATPE staff attorneys, as well as courses on college preparation, digital literacy, leadership, project-based learning, and social and emotional learning by various partners and members.

3

You must complete a quick course evaluation to earn your hours.

After you finish each course, you must complete a short evaluation statement in order to officially complete the course and receive your CPE hours. This is a mandatory requirement for all education taken on the PL Portal, so don’t forget!

4

Use the Education Tracker to keep up with your progress.

You can track your CPE hours and certificates through the Education Tracker in the PL Portal, making it easy to maintain a comprehensive history of your professional learning throughout your career. Additionally, you can record activities completed outside of the portal, including practice hours, offline courses, and seminars. (Another ATPE membership benefit!)

Records are held for 10 years, and you can access, print, and download your history and course certificates at any time.

26 ATPE NEWS

YOUR ATPE

Age 30 or Younger? Don’t Miss Out on Gen ATPE One of ATPE’s newest programs, Gen ATPE, offers special programming and networking opportunities specifically for educators ages 30 or younger. No additional application or fee is required, but to receive notification of Gen ATPE events, your member profile must include your birthdate indicating that you are currently age 30 or younger. To add your birthdate, log in to your Member Account at atpe.org, then navigate to “My Profile.”

Add your birthday under “Profile Information,” and click Save!

Be sure to check out the archived Gen ATPE webinars available in the ATPE Professional Learning Portal: ★

Choosing and Using Diverse Literature: Discover sources to find new literature for your classroom library. There are many beautiful books that can add a new lens for learning.

Literature should serve not only as a mirror for students to see the reflection of their lives but also as a window for them to see worlds outside of themselves. See how adding new and diverse books can even impact growth in reading skills. (Presented by Stephanie Stoebe)

★

How to Engage Families in Their Children’s Education: One of your biggest challenges as a teacher is finding strategies for getting your students’ families involved in their education.

Veteran educators Karen Hames and Shelly Couch will share lessons learned from their careers and explain what really works—and what really doesn’t. Plus, they’ll cover what parental/family involvement looks like post-pandemic, as well as what to do if you don’t feel like your administrators are supportive. By the end of the webinar, you’ll have some time-tested techniques to try this year. (Presented by Shelly Couch and Karen Hames)

Do You Enjoy Podcasts During Your Commute?

Then check out the latest episodes of both The President’s Podcast and The ATPE Podcast on your favorite podcast apps to stay up to date on the latest public education news and issues that are important to you.

For the latest on association happenings from ATPE State President Stacey Ward, log in to our member-only podcast at atpe.org/ the-presidents-podcast.

If you prefer watching a video, The ATPE Podcast is publicly available to all educators and can also be found on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/OfficialATPE.

ATPE NEWS 27

Your Ally—continued from page 7

Consider Your Options

Your evaluation options will depend on your district’s policies. You usually will have the right to submit a written response to be attached to the evaluation in your file. A written response is helpful for telling your side of the story and providing positive documentation for your record. It should be professional and free from emotion; you can disagree, but you should do so without being disagreeable.

Some appraisal systems, including the T-TESS, also allow you to request a second appraisal by a different administrator. Usually, that comes in the form of a second classroom observation. Although this might sound like a fresh start, a second appraisal does not usually replace the first one.

They are typically averaged together, but it can depend on district policy.

The most formal approach is the grievance process, which allows employees to challenge their evaluation results.

Grievances are decided by campus/district administrators and the school board—rather than an independent decision maker—so they can be difficult to win without evidence of a legal violation. And because it can be a confrontational process, employees must carefully weigh the risks against the potential benefits.

The ATPE Member Legal Services Department can help eligible members* decide what approach will work best for them. But please note that all of these options have fairly short deadlines—usually 10 or 15 working days from the date you receive your appraisal. So contact us relatively quickly if you have questions.

*Eligibility, terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit atpe.org/protection to view important disclosures and current details of the insurance policy. Staff attorney services are provided separate from the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program.

Leadership ATPE—continued from page 16

expecting to get out of it? Are you going in with an open mind and open heart? Are you looking to contribute and share?

“Be rested and be ready to open your heart to some amazing people,” Renteria says.

Educator Empowerment

Attending Leadership ATPE empowered Renteria to take the leap into region leadership, and now he has his eye on bigger goals: “I believe that a state office position might be in my future. Getting out and meeting people and not being shy or uninformed made it possible for me to succeed.”

28 ATPE NEWS

Vahrenkamp has served on multiple ATPE committees, become more acquainted with ATPE’s inner workings, and learned more about how to be active and vocal in the political world. “I have written to the commissioner of education about issues with the Reading Academies, became Region 3 ATPE Director, and spoken out on my campus when the district was doing things that hindered us from doing our jobs.”

Stoebe says: “I am currently serving on my school district’s committee to attract more educators to our schools. We are also working on offering paid certification routes to paraprofessionals who would like to be teachers. Thanks to Leadership ATPE, I am able to take the mission of my school district and spread the word to companies, individuals, and the media.

“In March, I will be hosting a panel at SXSW EDU on the ‘5 Year Problem: Keeping Teachers in the Classroom.’ Three years ago, something of this magnitude would have intimidated me. Now? I am confident in sharing my thoughts and opinions. I credit Leadership ATPE for my growth. If you’re an educator and you are waiting for somebody to do something about an issue, please realize that you can be that somebody.

Leadership ATPE inspired me to take a stand and then move forward on making changes in educational policy.”

Participating in Leadership ATPE gave Vahrenkamp a new outlook on the unknowns of volunteering and leadership: “The state officers talked about learning as they went, not being afraid to ask questions, and so much more. This gave me the confidence to use my voice in many places. It helped me to realize I didn’t have to know everything in order to speak out. If I knew a problem or saw something that could be better I could speak up. I walked away from Leadership ATPE with more confidence in what I was capable of doing and with more comrades than I had before. I was blessed to be a part of the first leadership cohort, and we became each other’s cheerleaders, advocates, and friends.“ The most recent endeavor Vahrenkamp attributes to Leadership ATPE is starting a blog about education: “There is a lot that needs to be said and needs to be put out in a way that it can be heard and spread. I am one person, and while I may not make as big of an impact as others, Leadership ATPE taught me it doesn’t matter. I will do what I can do and encourage others to join in so the impact becomes larger.”

Like her fellow Leadership ATPE alumni, Vahrenkamp eagerly encourages ATPE members to learn more about the program and apply: “It is a wonderful way to be able to connect with other educators across Texas and to come out stronger than you were. To prepare for this experience, the only thing one needs to do is be open minded, ready to participate, and willing to have fun. That is the best part of this program, and we had a blast all while taking in a ton of information. You will not regret being a member of a Leadership ATPE cohort.”

YOUR ATPE

Meet ATPE’s

REGIONAL MEMBERSHIP SPECIALISTS ATPE’s eight dedicated regional membership specialists support ATPE’s members and volunteers in their local communities across the state. Not sure what region you’re in? Visit atpe.org/find-atpe to find out.

ROGER GUTIERREZ

CYNTHIA VILLALOVOS

GINGER FRANKS

JOSEPH CRUZ

Regions 1 & 2 rgutierrez@atpe.org

Regions 3 & 4 cvillalovos@atpe.org

Regions 5–7 gfranks@atpe.org

Regions 8 & 10 jcruz@atpe.org

DIANE POKLUDA

MARY JANE WAITS

JEFF VEGA

YVETTE MILNER

Regions 9 & 11 dpokluda@atpe.org

Regions 12, 14, & 15 mjwaits@atpe.org

Regions 16–19 jvega@atpe.org

Regions 13 & 20 ymilner@atpe.org

ATPE NEWS 29

Why ATPE is the No. 1 Choice of Texas Educators ATPE is proud to support you with membership benefits that set us apart from other educator organizations. We know that you have a choice when joining a professional organization, so here are a few highlights of what makes us the leading educators’ association in Texas and one of the largest independent educators’ associations in the country.

ATPE BY THE NUMBERS:

professional insurance $8M inliability

*

Up to $8 million in professional liability insurance subject to policy limits.*

9

ATPE staff attorneys

Nine staff attorney positions—more than any other Texas educators’ association.**

$1,300 average savings Exclusive discounts on everything from hotels to prescription drugs, saving members more than $1,300 a year on average.

180

on-demand PD courses

More than 180 on-demand professional development courses available through the Professional Learning Portal.

across Texas 2,400 volunteers Support from over 2,400 volunteers in school districts across Texas.

982

bills tracked by ATPE lobbyists

Our lobbyists tracked 982 bills while covering more than 175 hearings over four sessions during 2021–22.

visitors to 1M site TeachTheVote.org Engaged educators through Teach the Vote, ATPE’s comprehensive advocacy website, which has had over 1 million total site visitors.

92%

ATPE-PAC win ratio

ATPE-PAC supported 10 candidates in the 2022 Texas primaries—100% won or moved on to the next round—and 24 candidates in the 2022 Texas general election, with a 92% win ratio.***

*THE EDUCATORS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY IS UNDERWRITTEN BY NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE CO. OF PITTSBURGH, PA. ALL COVERAGE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS TERMS OF THE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED TO ATPE AND KEPT ON FILE AT THE ATPE STATE OFFICE. View insurance policy details at atpe.org/Legal-Benefits/Liability-Insurance. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for the appropriate membership category. The membership year runs from Aug 1-July 31. **Staff attorney services are provided separate from the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program.***ATPE-PAC solicits contributions only from members, employees, and their families. Participation in ATPE-PAC is voluntary.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

T

he thousands of ATPE volunteers across Texas are the backbone of this association.

Their hard work and dedication allow ATPE to serve the state’s largest community of educators. In this ongoing ATPE News series, we spotlight volunteers who set a great example of service to their fellow educators. NEXT UP: LAMARCUS WALLACE, transportation facilitator for Nacogdoches ISD, treasurer for Nacogdoches ATPE, and ATPE’s 2021–22 Campus Rep of the Year for local units with 201–500 members.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY Wallace first joined ATPE because he saw that it was a community. “What I found in ATPE was that it was like a family,” Wallace recalls. “It was a group of people who understood my struggles on a daily basis. They were able to relate to what I was going through, whether in the classroom, the school buses, or the lunch lines. It’s just a group of people that understands my day to day.”

Wallace was inspired to recruit new members to ATPE so they might share in the benefits of this community. He has been able to leverage his outgoing personality to do just that.

“I have been blessed with a gift: I’m a connector of people,” Wallace says. “I can build a relationship with anyone.” A key part of building these relationships—and then recruiting people to join ATPE—is listening to them in order to present a personalized pitch. “I tailor it to the individual.

I let them talk to me. I let them tell me what they’re passionate about. Then I will sell ATPE, but not before.”

CONNECT WITH YOUR WHY Recruiting and building relationships may come naturally to Wallace, but he says many of his techniques are easy to replicate and use in your own recruiting efforts: “My advice would be to connect with your why. Why did you join? What makes you

passionate about ATPE? Figure that out and share that. Once people connect with what made them sign up in the first place and share that with others, it’s easier to convince others to sign up. That is what motivated me to join.”

Wallace also reveals preparation and patience are the other keys to his recruiting success. First, he is prepared to meet common objections to joining.

“Some people are concerned about the price, spending $5 or $10 per paycheck,” Wallace explains. “I respond by asking them for three examples when they blew $5 on something frivolous. I will share that I routinely blow $5 on a bag of Doritos and a Dr Pepper. But with this money, you are getting something that can change and enhance your life. You are getting access to people who will support you if something goes wrong. You are getting people who advocate for you in Austin and Washington, D.C. That removes a lot of objections.”

Finally, if this approach does not work, Wallace does not press the issue. He focuses instead on creating a personal connection he believes will pay dividends in the future.

“If I don’t close the application, at least I have made a connection with that person.

I’ll just come back a bit later. I just try to share my love of ATPE and how it will benefit them whenever they join.”

I TAILOR IT TO THE INDIVIDUAL. I LET THEM TALK TO ME. I LET THEM TELL ME WHAT THEY’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. THEN I WILL SELL ATPE, BUT NOT BEFORE.” — LaMarcus Wallace, transportation facilitator for Nacogdoches ISD, treasurer for Nacogdoches ATPE, and ATPE’s 2021–22 Campus Rep of the Year for local units with 201–500 members

IN BECOMING AN ATPE VOLUNTEER? Reach out to ATPE’s  INTERESTED Volunteer Program Coordinator at volunteer@atpe.org.

ATPE NEWS 31

Association of Texas Professional Educators 305 E. Huntland Dr., Ste. 300 Austin, TX 78752-3792

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