DECEMBER_2025TLS_AnnualReport

Texas Association of School Boards

Texas thrives when public schools lead the way.

Join the movement. Share your public school pride. Tell your story. Be part of the reason Texas families choose public education — now and for the future.

A special edition of TASB’s Texas Lone Star magazine December 2025 • Volume 43 • Number 6

Dan Troxell • TASB Executive Director

Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield • TASB Deputy Executive Director

Laura Tolley • Managing Editor

Shu-in Powell • Graphic Designer

Lalo Garcia • Photographer

Prisma • Printer

Contributors: Sylvia Wood, Sara Butler, Theresa Gage-Dieringer, Beth Griesmer, Mary Ann Lopez, Matt Mitchell, Zachary Roberts, Denise Schulz

Cover design: Tobi Bello

Texas Lone Star (ISSN 0749-9310) is published six times a year by the Texas Association of School Boards. Copyright © 2025 by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). All rights reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, distribution, and exhibition in whole or in part are prohibited under penalty of law without the written license or permission of TASB.

TASB Officers 2025-26

Tony Hopkins, President, Friendswood ISD

Mary Jane Hetrick, President-Elect, Dripping Springs ISD

Dan Micciche, First Vice President, Dallas ISD, Region 10C

Sylvia Sánchez Garza, Second Vice President, South Texas ISD, Region 1B

Justin Chapa, Secretary-Treasurer, Arlington ISD, Region 11C

Rolinda Schmidt, Immediate Past President, Kerrville ISD

TASB Board of Directors 2025-26

Moises Alfaro, Mathis ISD, Region 2

Carlos Bentancourt, Slaton ISD, Region 17

Lynn Boswell, Austin ISD, Region 13A

Darlene Breaux, Alief ISD, Region 4B

Steve Brown, Ector County ISD, Region 18

Marlene Bullard, Tornillo ISD, Region 19

Kevin A. Carbó, Mesquite ISD, Region 10D

Crystal Carbone, Pearland ISD, Region 4C

Julie Cole, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Region 11A

Thomas Darden, Cooper ISD, Region 8

Dynette Davis, Frisco ISD, Region 10E

Angela Lemond Flowers, Houston ISD, Region 4D

Rebecca Fox, Katy ISD, Region 4E

Ginger Friesenhahn, East Central ISD, Region 20A

Angie Hanan, Fort Bend ISD, Region 4G

Carol Harle, Northside ISD-Bexar County, Region 20B

Regina Harris, Richardson ISD, Region 10B

Bryan Holubec, Thrall ISD, Region 13C

Elizabeth Ivey, Montgomery ISD, Region 6A

Todd LeCompte, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Region 4F

Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls ISD, Region 9

Raymond P. Meza, San Felipe Del Rio CISD, Region 15

James Morton, ESC 8, ESC Representative

Steven Newcom, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Region 11D

Nicholas Phillips, Nederland ISD, Region 5

Quinton “Q” Phillips, Fort Worth ISD, Region 11B

Margaret Pruett, Victoria ISD, Region 3

Tony Raymond, Sabine ISD, Region 7

Keri Roberts, Goldthwaite CISD, Region 12

Alison Busse Savage, Lyford CISD, Region 1A

Robert Selders Jr., Garland ISD, Region 10A

Rich Sena, Boerne ISD, Region 20D

Cindy Spanel, Highland Park ISD-Potter County, Region 16

Greg Welch, Clyde CISD, Region 14

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES

Texas trustees stood strong for students in 2025

by Tony Hopkins

As 2025 began, the challenges facing school boards, public education, and our Association were real and pressing. Many of us carried the theme of “Survive in 2025.”

But as the year closes, I can write with confidence that we have shifted our focus from surviving to thriving, and the foundation we have built positions us not just to withstand challenges but to grow stronger and more effective in the years ahead. Consider the following successes:

• Texas lawmakers approved $8.5 billion in new funding for schools, a significant step forward in addressing the needs of districts across Texas. While much work remains to ensure adequate resources for every student, this investment represents real progress and reflects the impact of persistent advocacy from trustees and educators statewide. It also underscores the importance of continued engagement with legislators and state leaders as we make the case for sustainable, long-term funding solutions.

• TASB was the subject of more than 40 bills designed to limit our ability to provide services to school districts and to advocate on behalf of school boards across Texas. Yet every one of those bills failed. This outcome was not by chance — it was the direct result of the collective work of trustees statewide and the dedication of TASB’s Governmental Relations staff. Together, they demonstrated to policymakers the critical role that school boards and

President Tony

TASB Immediate Past

educational experts play in shaping sound education policy. This advocacy success was one of the clearest examples of the power of trustees working with one voice for the future of our students.

• TASB’s proven and innovative services helped our members in many important ways — a testament to the confidence districts place in the Association’s stewardship. And TASB provided trustees with key training and resources that help boards govern with excellence.

TASB

Hopkins joined

President Rolinda Schmidt, a Kerrville ISD trustee, at Governance Camp in Galveston earlier this year.

Photos by TASB Media Services

These and other achievements are not just numbers — they translate directly into value for our members by reducing the costs of membership, training, and essential services across the Association. At a time when fiscal responsibility is more important than ever, TASB has delivered.

Thriving this year also has meant ensuring TASB remains a strong advocate for local control and public education. And it means building bridges to all legislators who will serve in Austin — most of whom we will know following the March 2026 primaries — so that we can continue to advance a constructive, student-focused agenda. Thriving is about moving forward with confidence, clarity, and collaboration.

Looking to the year ahead, one of the most important opportunities for trustees will come through TASB’s grassroots advocacy process. In the coming months, trustees across the state will gather for Grassroots Meetings to share their local perspectives, identify common priorities, and ensure their voices shape the statewide agenda. This process is the backbone of TASB advocacy and will form the basis of our preparation for the 90th legislative session in 2027. The success of these meetings depends on broad participation, and I strongly encourage every board to attend and contribute. When trustees speak with unity, legislators take notice and students benefit.

This fall, we also launched Our Future Is Public, a campaign designed to amplify the success stories happening in Texas public education. The goal is simple but vital: Showcase and celebrate the power of public education to change lives, improve communities, and create a stronger state for generations to come.

Public schools are educating the future of Texas, including a workforce critical to the success of the state’s economy. Our public schools offer the best access to a full portfolio of no-tuition programs, providing our students with unmatched opportunities to learn and achieve.

There is no shortage of success stories when it comes to Texas students, and you can read about some of them by following the campaign on Instagram at @ourfutureispublictx

As we turn the page on 2025, we also are preparing to celebrate School Board Recognition Month in January. This is an important time to honor the thousands of trustees across Texas who dedicate their time, energy, and vision to serving students and communities. Trustees play a vital role in ensuring accountability, providing leadership, and upholding the mission of public education. Recognition month gives communities a chance to say thank you, but it also offers trustees a moment to reflect on why they serve and to recommit themselves to the work ahead.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to sharing in the work of supporting our school districts and the children they educate in the year ahead.H

Tony Hopkins, Friendswood ISD’s board president, is the 2025-26 president of TASB.

Members of Friendswood ISD’s leadership team got together this fall at txEDCON in Houston. From left are Niki Rhodes, a Friendswood ISD trustee, TASB President Tony Hopkins, the school board’s president, and Thad Roher, the district’s superintendent.

IN SERVICE TO MEMBERS

We’re honored to highlight districts’ achievements

by Laura Tolley

The final issue of the year is the 2024-25 TASB Annual Report, a special edition of Texas Lone Star that takes a look back at the Association’s many efforts to serve our members with trusted guidance, expert services, key programs, and enhanced learning opportunities.

One of the magazine’s main goals is to keep members informed about all things TASB, and this issue is part of that effort.

Every year, TASB works hard to support our members because we know public education is vital to our children’s future and the state’s economic future. This issue is a chance to provide an overview of the many services that we are honored to provide to members and their districts.

Highlighting Texas districts

Another important aspect of the magazine’s mission is to highlight what districts are doing to improve public education in Texas.

In every issue this year, we sought to include stories about how school boards and other leaders are working hard to provide the best education possible to their students. And we got to tell some interesting tales this year!

Wildorado ISD in the Texas Panhandle comes to mind as I write this last column of 2025. There, the student-run Wildorado Cattle Co. offers a one-of-a-kind career and technology education program. That article led the June-July issue, our special “Good News” issue, a perennial favorite that is dedicated to student success stories.

Innovative CTE programs were the topic of several articles this year, including a culinary arts program at Academy ISD in Central Texas. Both Wildorado and Academy ISDs have tapped into local expertise to offer CTE courses that fuel career aspirations.

TASB understands that CTE initiatives in school districts are fulfilling workforce needs in Texas, and the magazine consistently seeks to put a spotlight on these efforts. These

TEXAS PUBLIC ED GUIDES STUDENTS TO BRIGHT FUTURES

We began the year with our in-depth legislative preview package.

Outdoor education was our spring cover feature.

We celebrated student achievement in our summer issue!

programs promote industry partnerships to meet regional employment needs. Look for more CTE coverage next year in the magazine and on tasb.org

Other articles this year focused on issues that affect school leaders, teachers, and staff. One story focused on the onboarding process for incoming superintendents and how it can help determine their success as a leader. TASB understands how school boards can play a pivotal role in creating a positive environment for new superintendents.

Focusing on the future

The magazine also seeks to emphasize new TASB initiatives, including Our Future Is Public, a campaign launched this fall that’s focused on amplifying the success stories in Texas public schools. TASB designed this initiative to help trustees and the communities they represent spread the word about the power of public education.

Look for more information and updates next year about this campaign in the magazine. And don’t forget, we are interested in your student success stories for the June-July issue. If you have a story about student achievement or an important program in your district, please email me at laura.tolley@tasb.org

In 2026, we will continue to highlight district programs and TASB’s efforts to serve members. We also want to hear more from school board members about what is going on in local school districts around Texas for our District Voices column. This feature is an opportunity for board members to tell their own story about a lesson learned as a trustee or a topic of importance. We want to hear from you.

A team effort

Finally, I want to thank everyone here at TASB who worked so hard this past year to help produce a great magazine for our members. I also want to thank the many school board members, district communications staff members, and others who contributed story ideas, features for the June-July issue, and District Voices columns for issues this year. Your efforts are appreciated!

Looking forward to bringing you more great stories about Texas public education in 2026!H

Laura Tolley is managing editor of Texas Lone Star.

BEYOND THE BOARDROOM

This year, txEDCON returned to Houston with a wide range of activities.

The fall issue featured a story about Snyder ISD's school board.

TASB’S 2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW

Throughout the past year, TASB continued its mission to promote educational excellence for all Texas schoolchildren and provide high-quality services and programs to school districts across the state. Following are highlights of those efforts.

TRUSTED GUIDANCE

Board Development Services Trustee learning is at the heart of TASB’s mission to support strong governance and strong schools. We know trustees face busy schedules, tight budgets, and the challenge of staying current on ever-changing issues in education. That’s why Board Development Services provides professional development that is timely, relevant, and cost effective to help trustees and their boards meet requirements, deepen their knowledge, and strengthen their service to students.

This year, thousands of trustees relied on Board Development Services to guide their learning journey:

• Required training: More than 850 trustees logged continuing education hours in Child Abuse Prevention and the Texas Open Meetings Act through the convenience of the TASB Online Learning Center.

• Whole board development: Over 400 trustees from 67 boards participated in In-District Consultations with Board Development Services’ consultants, building teamwork and improving board effectiveness.

• Additional continuing education: Beyond required training, trustees invested in growth through TASB’s hallmark leadership programs and online opportunities. Together, these programs accounted for more than 5,000 hours of continuing education credit, offering trustees the chance to sharpen their governance skills at every stage of their journey:

 Texas Trustee Institute: More than 300 newly elected trustees laid a strong foundation for service through TTI, where they learned the fundamentals of board governance, finance, policy, and advocacy. These early experiences set the stage for trustees to engage confidently and effectively.

 Board Officer Institute: Over 200 trustees attended BOI, a focused training that sharpens leadership and communication skills. Participants gained tools to lead productive meetings, work effectively with superintendents, and guide their boards through complex governance decisions.

 Leadership TASB: This year, 33 Master Trustees completed this prestigious, year-long leadership journey. LTASB participants tackle statewide issues, collaborate with peers across Texas, and return to their districts with advanced skills to lead at both the local and state levels.

 Online Learning Center: More than 1,000 trustees earned 2,253 CEC hours through the flexibility of the OLC. For members who prefer self-paced learning, the OLC provides trusted TASB training anytime, anywhere. This year, the OLC also expanded with

the new TASB Experts Series, delivering more than four hours of on-demand, expert-led sessions on urgent topics such as student technology use, staffing and compensation, school safety, and aging facilities. For trustees who cannot attend live events, these offerings provide the same high-quality guidance shared by TASB staff across the state.

Through required trainings, whole-board consultations, leadership programs, and innovative online learning, Board Development Services supported trustees at every stage of their board service.

Community College Services

Community College Services provided legal and policy education and resources to help colleges respond to several significant legal changes, including those from the legislative session. In addition to the FAQs published on TASB College eLaw and the monthly newsletter Community College Legal Update, the division published a bill summary book covering approximately 340 bills impacting colleges and discussed those bills at the TASB/Texas Association of Community College Attorneys (TACCA) Post-Legislative Seminar for Community Colleges and Their Attorneys.

Community College Services’ attorneys provided training at several state and regional events, such as the Texas Association of Community Colleges Annual Conference and the Texas Association of Community College Business Officials Annual Conference. The division also partnered with TACCA in presenting the TACCA Annual Conference.

Community College Services issued two updates to the Community College Policy Reference Manual and the associated local policies. Currently, 47 of the state’s 50 community colleges subscribe to the CCPRM, and 43 of the 50 community colleges maintain their board policies with Community College Services.

Governmental Relations

The 89th legislative session brought many opportunities for trustees to advocate on behalf of their students and communities. Governmental Relations stepped up to provide many of those trustees with the information, training, and capacity-building to engage members and enhance their efforts. The results were evident, as the Texas Legislature passed one of the largest investments in public education in several years and improved legislation throughout the process that may have otherwise negatively impacted schools.

Governmental Relations ensured that the 2024-26 Advocacy Agenda was central to TASB’s collaborative advocacy activities, while also working with the TASB Legislative Advisory Council and Board of Directors to update Advocacy Priorities after the legislative session. The 2025 Delegate Assembly adopted a more streamlined version of the Priorities and approved significant changes to TASB’s Cornerstone Principles and Resolutions. The current Agenda will remain in effect until the 2026 Delegate Assembly adopts the 2026-28 Agenda.

TASB also created several resources to help trustees develop their advocacy capacity throughout the interim, including A Toolkit for Community Advocacy and customized District Data Overview reports. Governmental Relations staff will spend much of the interim providing training and legislative update sessions for local trustees and administrators in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislature in 2027.

Governmental Relations hosted more than 50 school leaders in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Texas Federal Advocacy Conference, where attendees learned about important federal education issues from leading policy experts. Trustees also had the opportunity to meet with federal lawmakers and staffers to share specific examples of how federal laws are impacting local school districts and students. The TASB Board began setting the 2026 conference up for success by continuing the stipend program designed to increase attendance at the federal conference, which includes five enhanced stipends to help districts offset the costs of travel and lodging in addition to the standard registration cost covered by the standard stipends.

With a shortened interim — especially as a third special session has not been completely discounted — it is critical that Texas school leaders do their best to prepare for the upcoming legislative session, and TASB plans to be there every step of the way.

Legal Services

Legal Services hosted four regional Fall Legal Seminars with about 165 trustees and administrators attending. Legal Services attorneys presented at numerous TASB events, such as txEDCON, the TASB Administrative Professionals Conference, Governance Camp, Spring Workshops, and the two Summer Leadership Institutes. Legal Services also hosted its biennial School Law Boot Camp — a very popular three-day CLE for attorneys new to the practice of school law — and its Council of School Attorneys Post-Legislative Seminar.

The online TASB School Law eSource, which contains more than 180 helpful documents and FAQs covering a range of topics, had nearly 150,000 views last year (from September through August). Legal Services reviewed more than 3,500 bills and resolutions passed by the Texas Legislature and summarized nearly 300 in its Legislative Summary for School Officials. For members looking to stay on top of legal topics relevant to their district, Legal Services published 11 editions of the School Law Update newsletter, available for free through the Legal Services Resources library to districts with an active TASB membership.

In the past year, attorneys on the legal team handled over 3,000 calls on its Legal Line on a variety of school law topics, including questions arising from the legislative session.

Policy Service

Policy Service issued Update 125 just before the 89th legislative session ended and immediately began began working on Update 126, which is the large update following the legislative session. This legislative session included a few new laws that necessitated the release of local policies before the update, as compliance was required before September 1. Policy

Service released four model policies related to those bills in early July outside of the numbered update process. The Model Student Handbook and the Model Student Code of Conduct were revised based on legislative changes and released to districts in July.

Policy Service issued several Policy Alerts during the 2024-25 year to keep members apprised of information that necessitated district attention including post-legislative session Policy Alerts that helped districts make sense of pressing legal changes impacting their policy manuals.

The team also processed 1,991 district-initiated local updates and completed Policy Review Sessions for 57 districts.

Policy Service hosted 20 interactive webinars in 2024-25, including webinars relating to the legislative session and two webinars specifically for trustees.

Policy Service also provided in-person training and educational opportunities at the Summer Leadership Institute, Spring Workshops, TASB Conference for Administrative Professionals, txEDCON, and more. In addition, the quarterly Policy Spotlight newsletter kept members informed on different subjects.

EXPERT SERVICES

Benefits CooperativeTM

The TASB Benefits Cooperative continues to offer districts the TASB Benefits Health, Dental, and Vision Plans, as well as other valuable services such as healthcare consulting. This year, the Benefits Cooperative launched two new product lines: Long-Term Care Insurance and Student Accident Insurance. Best-in-class awarded providers were procured under the direction of the Benefits Cooperatives’ Board of Trustees, and a number of districts signed up for these programs in spring 2025.

BoardBook®

BoardBook supported effective governance by serving more than 1,752 boards across Texas and beyond, including school districts, colleges, municipalities, and counties. The focus on customer support and education remained central, with more than 55 trainings offered throughout the year and customer satisfaction ratings exceeding 88%. BoardBook launched Get on Board, a newsletter for board members, providing key insights and resources.

In 2025, BoardBook enhanced search and navigation, making it easier for users to locate and manage agenda and meeting items, as well as implementing the Policy Online link for Texas subscribers. The Maine School Boards Association became a reseller, joining a growing nationwide network of state associations that trust BoardBook to support their school boards.

ConnectED

The ConnectED Texas program, launched in partnership with Diamond Communications, marked its first full year of connecting school districts with opportunities to expand cell coverage and generate long-term revenue. Over the past 18 months, ConnectED engaged with 262 districts and started the process of connecting cell carriers with more than 60 districts, laying the groundwork for carrier partnerships that have the potential to enhance connectivity for schools and their communities.

To keep participants informed, ConnectED introduced a newsletter that highlights national and local industry trends and carrier activity that shape connectivity in Texas.

Executive Search Services

Executive Search Services assisted 23 districts in finding a new superintendent. Of the 23 districts, four were large districts, 15 were medium-sized districts, and four were small districts. Two mock interview workshops were held: one in January and one in July. Both events drew a total of 43 candidates.

The Executive Search Servies team participated in conferences, including those held by MASBA: School Board Members for Latino Equity, the National Affiliation of Superintendent Searchers, the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Aspiring Superintendents Academy, the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools, TASA Midwinter, TASB Governance Camp, TASB Summer Leadership Institute, and txEDCON.

In addition, an Executive Search Services satisfaction survey was distributed to 23 districts after the superintendent search process was completed. Of the responses received, all would recommend Executive Search Services to other districts to conduct their superintendent search.

Facility Services

Facility Services offered expertise to more than 670 school districts and other entities across Texas, through facility assessments, environmental services, long-range facility planning, and training. From Texline to South Padre and from Anthony to Newton, the team’s on-the-ground presence helped districts better understand and plan for their facilities’ immediate and future needs.

Throughout the year, Facility Services helped more than 100 districts understand their facility needs. Facility assessments serve as a cornerstone resource, giving districts reliable data to guide decision-making and voter engagement.

Facility Services also advanced its digital tools. The Facility Dashboard received behind-the-scenes updates to improve functionality while maintaining a seamless user experience. The AMP Dashboard supported more than 600 districts in managing asbestos requirements efficiently and effectively.

To further strengthen district teams, Facility Services hosted 22 in-person trainings across the state and presented more than 15 educational sessions at various conferences, equipping new and experienced staff alike with the knowledge to maintain safe, sustainable learning environments.

HR Services

HR Services completed nearly 300 consulting projects for members in 2024-25, including more than 200 compensation projects alone. Members received guidance as they implemented compensation changes from House Bill 2, and they receive continued support as they deal with other big changes from the regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature.

Consulting

HR Services continues to work tirelessly to provide members with high-quality consulting projects related to compensation, staffing, human resources, employee opinion surveys, and custom requests.

HR Services’ total project count for all consulting services projects has grown by 15% over a two-year period:

• 294 (2024-25)

• 287 (2023-24)

• 272 (2022-23)

Training and resources

HR Services also continued to provide new and updated guidance, training, and resources to members:

• Continued efforts to share information about the healthcare landscape in Texas and provide ideas for managing costs while offering quality benefits through conference presentations to board members and HR staff and development of HR Services Resource Library materials.

• Developed two new workshops for administrators on conducting investigations and implementing growth plans.

• Released The Administrator’s Guide to Educator Certification. This is the sixth entry in The Administrator’s Guide series and the first digital offering.

• Added 20 new items and updated about 140 items — including changes resulting from the 89th legislative session — in the HR Services Resource Library, which houses an expansive collection of resources, including forms, templates, model employee handbook, and model job descriptions.

• Produced 137 articles for the HRX newsletter, maintaining

its commitment to providing human resources staff with timely news and information throughout the 89th legislative session.

• Collaborated with other organizations to provide guidance to the Texas Education Agency to create the Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record, which replaced the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation worksheet starting with the 2025-26 school year.

HRDataSource

HR Services continues to see increased participation in its salary surveys, including a five-year high for the Superintendent, District Personnel, and Community College Surveys.

Participation in this year’s Community College Salary Survey was the highest it’s been since the survey’s inception in 2018.

Student Solutions

Student Solutions continued to support special populations teams across Texas, serving more than 400 member programs that include school districts, shared service arrangements, charter schools, and ESCs. These programs address the unique needs of students served through special education, Section 504, emergent bilingual, and gifted and talented programs.

This year, Student Solutions introduced several new resources to further strengthen district support. Progress Report, a quarterly newsletter, keeps members informed of policy updates, program requirements, and emerging best practices. Another highlight, the ARD Committee Meeting Agenda Poster — available through the TASB Store — provides districts with a simple, yet effective tool to foster alignment between staff, parents, and students.

Equally significant was the annual update of operating procedures for special populations, a process that helps districts remain compliant with changing regulations. The updates the team made in 2025 were particularly impactful, easing administrative burdens and giving district staff more time to focus on students. Beyond Texas, Student Solutions presented a session at the CASE Conference 2024 in Savannah, Georgia, sharing expertise with national peers in special education and bringing valuable insights back to Texas schools.

HR Services Survey Participation Rate 2024-25

KEY PROGRAMS

BuyBoard®

BuyBoard set another record in 2024-25, with over $2.3 billion in purchases made by cooperative members. This was an increase of more than 10% of the previous fiscal year’s total. Another record set was the $14.3 million in rebates that went to 1,397 cooperative members — the largest number of members to receive rebates since BuyBoard’s inception.

Energy CooperativeTM

TASB Energy Cooperative signed up 16 members in the electricity program, consisting of individual electricity contracts. This brought the total contracted volumes to 1,877,874 MWh on an annual basis for a 5.6% increase year over year. While Texas had a cooler than predicted summer, resulting in lower-than-expected short-term rates, the long-term market outlook remains relatively unchanged with rates steadily rising due to demand outpacing supply.

TASB Energy Cooperative fuel program members purchased gasoline, diesel, and propane products amounting to 10 million gallons under the fixed-rate and spot programs. The spring fuel pool was a success, with 42 members taking part and 2.8 million gallons purchased. Despite global events affecting markets in the short term, overall fuel prices saw a decrease from last year and have been relatively stable throughout the summer months into the fall.

First Public®

First Public, a subsidiary of TASB, is the administrator of the Lone Star Investment Pool and the TASB Benefits Cooperative, which offer investment and benefits management services to school districts, municipalities, higher education, and other local governments across Texas. Both programs reported exciting growth and innovation during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Lone Star Investment PoolTM

Providing competitive investment pool rates for school districts continued to be the guiding principle of the Lone Star Investment Pool, with fund options that aim to offer safety of principal, daily liquidity, and highest possible rate of return. The pool had its 12th consecutive year to see an all-time high peak balance.

Risk Management Fund

In addition to responding to over 20,000 of its members’ claims during the 2024-25 school year, the TASB Risk Management Fund focused on developing timely and responsive programs, all while providing the broadest coverage possible.

With financial strains facing members, the Fund looked for ways to provide training and resources at little to no cost. In March, the Fund launched an education grant to ensure members maintained access to high-quality risk management training despite their local budget constraints. The Fund’s Board of Trustees authorized $150,000 to reimburse Fund members for enrollment costs for their staff in approved courses or training programs with risk management content.

The 89th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 4623 to ensure that Texas public school districts protect their students from sexual abuse and follow mandatory reporting requirements. The Fund made coverage changes in response to the new law and collaborated with other TASB teams to ensure school districts were aware of the new law and the updated reporting requirements.

According to the Fund’s most recent member survey conducted in February 2025, 98% of its members are satisfied with their Fund membership and highly rank its claims handling and customer service. With more than 1,000 members and a 99% retention rate, the Fund continues its commitment to comprehensive and responsive risk solutions as one of the oldest, most successful, and largest school risk pools in the nation.

Looking forward to the new year, the Fund is excited to host its Members’ Conference in April 2026. Through this cornerstone event, the Fund will strengthen relationships with Fund members through relevant and high-quality training and networking opportunities for its members.

ENHANCED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Governance Camp

The 2025 Governance Camp held March 5-8 in Galveston brought together more than 640 attendees, including nearly 175 students, to learn, share, and connect. A pre-conference workshop gave trustees hands-on experience with TASB’s A Toolkit for Community Advocacy, offering practical steps to build engaged champions of public education.

Camp featured more than 40 leadership and governance sessions, 20 student voice sessions, and 10 student-inspired presentations that highlighted innovative programs and creativity taking place across Texas. A new Teacher Voice Panel allowed trustees to hear directly from educators about both challenges and successes in today’s classrooms.

Always a highlight, the Student Voice Scholarship Panel shared their perspectives with attendees. As part of this program, five $1,500 scholarships were awarded to these Texas high school seniors for their leadership and advocacy.

Attendees earned more than 2,600 CEC hours, underscoring their commitment to professional growth. From student and teacher voice presentations to trustee-focused workshops, Governance Camp offered a unique space for collaboration and leadership in support of Texas public education.

Summer Leadership Institute

More than 3,000 new and veteran trustees, along with district leaders, attended the 2025 Summer Leadership Institute in San Antonio, June 11-14, or Fort Worth, June 18-21, to strengthen their governance, leadership, and teamwork skills so they can better serve their communities and improve student outcomes. With the legislative session having just ended, an overarching theme of this year’s conference was giving trustees timely updates on new laws and their impact on Texas schools.

Between the two locations, attendees had access to more than 180 sessions, with over 100 in San Antonio and 80 in Fort Worth. While many were offered at both conferences, each location also featured unique content tailored to its audience. Collectively, participants earned more than 24,000 CEC hours.

Required training included Evaluating and Improving Student Outcomes, Open Meetings Act, Child Abuse Prevention, and a dedicated Post-Legislative Update session to help trustees understand the latest policy changes. In addition, the Texas Trustee Institute provided a crash course for newly elected trustees as they began their board service.

The conference concluded with an energetic closing general session by Mickey Smith Jr., whose mix of inspiring words and live saxophone performance left attendees grooving their way home.

txEDCON

The largest gathering of Texas public education trustees and administrators convened in Houston for txEDCON, September 11–14, at the George R. Brown Convention Center — marking the event’s return to the Bayou City for the first time since 2016.

Attendees came together for ideas, insights, and inspiration to shape public education, with strong attendance and a vibrant atmosphere throughout the convention.

Highlights included dynamic keynote presentations by Anthony Trucks, former NFL player, identity shift coach, and creator of the Dark Work Experience; Kevin Brown, motivational speaker and author of The Hero Effect; and Justine Froelker, licensed professional counselor and TEDx speaker known for her work on resilience and courageous leadership. In addition, more than 160 concurrent sessions offered attendees insights on topics ranging from governance and leadership to school safety.

According to post-event evaluations, 94% of respondents said they felt better prepared to serve Texas public schoolchildren, energized about working with their board and superintendent, and inspired to improve student learning in their districts — each metric showing continued growth from previous years.

Spring Workshops

From March through May, TASB held its annual Spring Workshops across the state, bringing insightful, relevant training opportunities closer to home for school board members. Each event was designed around direct feedback from our members, ensuring that sessions met the evolving needs of Texas trustees.

These workshops offered valuable opportunities to earn CEC hours, gain timely legislative updates, and connect with fellow education leaders from neighboring districts. This year, TASB was proud to partner with McAllen ISD in Region 1 for a new workshop, featuring a dinner prepared by the district’s talented culinary students whose professionalism and creativity made the evening truly inspiring.

Building on this success, TASB is taking the next step in 2026 with a newly reimagined series of Regional Workshops. Guided by expert feedback and member collaboration, these enhanced events will offer even more opportunities for connection, learning, and leadership across every region of the state.

2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW: AT A GLANCE

Throughout the year, TASB has been honored to serve its members through a range of services, programs, and events. Here are a few highlights from 2024-25.

Over the last two years, the TASB Board of Directors underwent an intensive visioning process designed to strengthen the Association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of its members. This process coincided with the Board’s regularly scheduled strategic plan update, which provided an opportunity for deep reflection on how the Association articulates what it is and what it stands for as a member-driven association. The 2025 Delegate Assembly approved the recommended updates.

In April, George McShan, a former Harlingen CISD school board member and lifelong educator, was named the 2025 recipient of TASB’s James B. Crow Innovation in Governance Award. McShan was presented the award at Summer Leadership Institute in San Antonio.

BuyBoard saw record numbers, helping members procure nearly 350,000 in purchases. Last fall, The Local Government Purchasing Cooperative distributed $13 million in rebates to more than 1,300 members.

Since Sept. 1, 2024, the TASB Risk Management Fund has helped over 15,000 school district employees get the medical care they need after a workplace injury and has paid over $81 million to its members to help cover the costs to repair buildings after severe weather, fires, and other disasters.

In the last year, the TASB Benefits Cooperative provided benefits plans for more than 84,000 Texas public school employees. And we recently added more coverage options with long-term care and student accident insurance.

Members gave TASB high marks in the annual Member Survey, which was conducted April 2-May 5. In 2025, ratings improved across all groups compared to the previous year, with board members experiencing the highest increase of 12 percentage points.

TASB published A Toolkit for Community Advocacy, which provides school board members a step-by-step guide to building community support for public education. An online component provides members-only community resources and activities.

The regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature ended with several wide-reaching impacts for Texas schools — from public school funding and a private school voucher program to student discipline and property tax relief. In February, more than 300 school leaders attended the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference to hear updates and meet with their lawmakers.

Celebrating 50 years of service to its members, TASB Policy Service has had a busy year. The policy update for member districts was created in response to sweeping legislative changes from the 2025 session.

TASB Legal Services was busy analyzing legislation and providing the Legislative Summary for School Officials for members, as well as important resource updates on a number of topics. This fiscal year, Legal fielded more than 3,000 calls to its Legal Line.

TASB HR Services completed nearly 300 consulting projects for members in 2024-25, including more than 200 compensation projects. The 40-year history of HR support to districts continued with expert guidance on implementing compensation changes from House Bill 2 and other big changes from the 89th legislative session. This year, HR Services provided new and updated guidance, training, and resources to members, including publishing The Administrator’s Guide to Educator Certification, issuing 20 new HR library resources, and conducting 34 virtual and in-person workshops. The HR survey response rates hit a five-year high in 2024-25 for the superintendent, district personnel, and community college salary surveys.

This year, TASB received a record number of submissions for the biennial Student Video Contest. A total of 41 videos from districts across the state were submitted for consideration by a panel of six judges. Tyler ISD (Region 7), Robinson ISD (Region 12), and Santa Maria ISD (Region 1) were all recognized for placing first in their categories based on creativity, message, and technical quality. Each district was presented with a $5,000 check.

In the 2024-25 fiscal year, Executive Search Services conducted 23 searches, which is a 20% increase from the previous year. ESS also successfully incorporated the Field Services team in assisting with searches across the state and meeting with new superintendents within the first three months.

Over the past year, the TASB Events team hosted dozens of gatherings, meetings, and workshops with a special focus on those for school board trustees. In Houston, 4,504 school leaders attended txEDCON, earning more than 11,000 CEC hours. Governance Camp in February 2025 provided 571 school leaders with 72 sessions approved for credit. The two Summer Leadership Institutes in June 2025 collectively provided 3,085 school leaders with 182 sessions approved for credit. Other notable events in 2024-25 were the Spring Workshops held in 16 locations across the state, which gave 738 school leaders the opportunity to receive training in their region.

TASB’s Mission Statement, Cornerstone

TASB’s Cultural Framework Visualized

TASB’s cultural framework, represented by a tree, illustrates how our Mission, Cornerstone Principles, and Values are integrated and interconnected.

At the roots of the tree are our Values defining the way our Board and staff operate, supporting each other as we deliver on our mission.

The branches represent our Cornerstone Principles, our members’ core beliefs and the foundational building blocks of the TASB Advocacy Agenda, which guide our advocacy efforts in Texas.

The tree’s trunk represents our Mission — our strong central purpose, defining who we are and why we exist.

Put People First

We lead with dedication and empathy to those we serve. We prioritize meaningful relationships with our members, school leaders, public school advocates, and TASB staff.

Act with Integrity

We build trust through consistent actions and a deep understanding of the members we serve. We act with honesty, integrity, and fairness.

Empower Local Leaders

We strengthen local governance by giving school board members the tools, training, and support they need to lead confidently and effectively in service of the students in their community.

Adapt with Agility

We embrace continuous improvement and respond proactively to the evolving needs of our members. We anticipate change, adapt quickly, and stay flexible in our approach, always focused on serving our members.

Commit to Excellence

We deliver exceptional quality and meaningful value in every interaction. Our services are timely, comprehensive, relevant, and consistently exceed expectations.

Steward Member Resources

We operate with discipline and care, offering affordable, high-quality solutions designed to save school districts time and money so more resources reach students in the classroom.

Cornerstone Principles, and Values

The Texas Association of School Boards promotes educational excellence for Texas schoolchildren through the advancement of good governance, valuable learning experiences for school leaders, and public school advocacy. We also provide high-quality services and programs to school districts — helping them operate more efficiently and effectively.

Approved by Delegate Assembly on Sept. 13,

Every Texas student deserves an excellent education in a safe, supportive learning environment.

We advocate for all Texas schoolchildren.

Local, nonpartisan school boards are essential to strong public schools and communities.

We advocate for local governance.

Texas public schools are a smart investment in our state’s future.

We advocate for funding levels that support student success.

Students succeed when school leaders, parents, educators, and community members work together.

We advocate for Texas public school families, respecting the unique needs of each community.

In addition, TASB’s Advocacy Agenda is created by members — and for members — to advocate for public schools at the state Capitol and beyond.

Closing achievement gaps is a responsibility of school leaders and educators. We advocate for fair access to educational opportunities, resources, and supports for all Texas public schoolchildren.

Public dollars should stay in public schools. We advocate against the diversion of public funds without the same accountability standards and requirements that apply to public schools.

Effective and transparent school governance drives excellent student outcomes, enriched school experiences, and efficient district operations.

We advocate for access to high-quality services and training that help school boards and their districts be good stewards of taxpayer money.

2025-26 TASB OFFICERS

Tony Hopkins, President

Hopkins has served on the Friendswood ISD Board since 2008 and was elected to his fifth four-year term in 2024. Hopkins currently serves as board president. He is a Leadership TASB graduate and a Master Trustee. Hopkins has served on the TASB Board since March 2018.

Hopkins was president of the Gulf Coast Area Association of School Boards for 2019-20 and 2020-21. He is president of Four Creeks Investments LLC, an independent energy consulting and investment firm, and serves as chief financial officer of 14 companies, including Modular Plant Solutions, LLC, Woven Metal Products, Inc., and TF Companies LLC.

Hopkins earned a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University and a master’s degree from Rice University.

Mary Jane Hetrick, President-Elect

Hetrick is in her fourth term on the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees, currently serving a third year as vice president after serving two years as president. She is a 2017 Leadership TASB graduate and Master Trustee.

She earned a bachelor’s in business administration from The University of Texas-Pan American, now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a master’s in public administration and a certificate in nonprofit management from Auburn University at Montgomery, and a doctorate in public administration and public policy from Auburn University.

Hetrick’s professional experience includes working as an adjunct professor for AUM, TROY University, and Austin Community College. In 2014, she founded a nonprofit consulting business.

Active in her community, Hetrick was honored by the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce with the Hometown Hero award in 2020. She serves on the Dripping Springs Education Foundation Board, is president of the Foster Village Board, and was co-founder and vice president of Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs.

Dan Micciche, First Vice President

Micciche is partner emeritus at the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. During his time with Akin Gump, Micciche started and chaired a school partnership program with James W. Fannin Elementary School in Dallas. The program won the State Board of Education’s highest award for community partnerships in 2011.

He has received numerous recognitions for his work in public education, including the No Kid Hungry award from Share Our Strength, the Closing the Gap award from Leadership ISD, and the Voice of Children award from Children at Risk.

He received his undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University, his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, and his master’s degree in education policy and analysis from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Micciche also holds a master’s degree in public leadership from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Sylvia Sánchez Garza, Second Vice President

Sánchez Garza has served on the South Texas ISD Board since 2008 and is currently the board vice president. Since 2004, she also has served on the Education Foundation of South Texas ISD, which is based in Mercedes. She is a 2012 Leadership TASB graduate and Master Trustee. Sánchez Garza is also a member of MASBA: School Board Members for Latino Equity and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and is the past National Hispanic Council Southern Regional Director.

Active in her community, she currently serves on the South Texas Literacy Coalition Board and is a past chair of the Museum of South Texas History Board. She grew up in Weslaco, where the local library is named after her father, a former migrant farmworker, superintendent, mayor, and author. Sánchez Garza is a founder of the Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Memorial Book Festival and an ex-officio board member of the Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Public Library in Weslaco.

She has a doctorate in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University’s School of Business and Leadership, a master’s in educational administration from Lamar University, a master’s in creative writing, and a bachelor’s in English from The University of Texas–Pan American, now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Sánchez Garza and her husband own B.I.C. Development and Garco Ranch Communities. She is the author of three books and is featured in three anthologies and several literary magazines. Her books have won several literary awards.

Justin Chapa, Secretary-Treasurer

Chapa has served on the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees since 2017 and currently serves as the board’s president. He previously served on the district’s Financial Futures, Citizens Bond Oversight, and Capital Needs steering committees.

He spent his undergraduate years at Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in government. Upon graduating, he joined Teach for America and taught 12th-grade government and economics classes at Rivera High School in Brownsville. He then pursued his Juris Doctorate at Stanford Law School, where he concurrently earned a master’s degree in education. Currently, he is a senior attorney at McDowell Hetherington LLP.

Chapa co-founded a scholarship program for graduating seniors at his alma mater, Sam Houston High School. The program has awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships since 2007. He has served on the boards of United Way Tarrant County, Arlington ISD Education Foundation, Arlington Public Library Foundation, and Leadership Arlington, among other groups.

Rolinda Schmidt, Immediate Past President

Schmidt has served on the Kerrville ISD Board since 1996 and has held the positions of board president, vice president, and secretary.

Before serving as a trustee, she was involved in campus PTOs and was a board member and volunteer for the Kerrville Public School Foundation. Schmidt is actively involved in local youth education programs, including the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, Rotary Club Foreign Exchange Student Program, Head Start, and the Kerrville ISD sixth-grade outdoor education program. She was named Families and Literacy’s 2014 Champion of Education.

Schmidt has a bachelor’s degree in social services from San Jose State University. She is a managing partner in her family-owned-and-operated commercial real estate development and management company.

She is a graduate of the Leadership TASB program and a member of the School Board Advocacy Network.

TASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-26*

REGION 1A

Alison Busse Savage, Lyford CISD

REGION 1B

Sylvia Sánchez Garza, South Texas ISD (TASB Second Vice President)

REGION 2

Moises Alfaro, Mathis ISD

REGION 3

Margaret Pruett, Victoria ISD

REGION 4B

Darlene Breaux, Alief ISD

REGION 4C

Crystal Carbone, Pearland ISD

REGION 4D

Angela Lemond Flowers, Houston ISD

REGION 4E

Rebecca Fox, Katy ISD

REGION 4F

Todd LeCompte, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

REGION 4G

Angie Hanan, Fort Bend ISD

REGION 5

Nicholas Phillips, Nederland ISD

REGION 6A

Elizabeth Ivey, Montgomery ISD

REGION 7

Tony Raymond, Sabine ISD

REGION 8

Thomas Darden, Cooper ISD

REGION 9

Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls ISD

REGION 10A

Robert Selders Jr., Garland ISD

REGION 10B

Regina Harris, Richardson ISD

REGION 10C

Dan Micciche, Dallas ISD (TASB First Vice President)

REGION 10D

Kevin A. Carbó, Mesquite ISD

REGION 10E

Dynette Davis, Frisco ISD

REGION 11A

Julie Cole, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

REGION 11B

Quinton “Q” Phillips, Fort Worth ISD

REGION 11C

Justin Chapa, Arlington ISD (TASB Secretary-Treasurer)

REGION 11D

Steven Newcom, Eagle MountainSaginaw ISD

REGION 12

Keri Roberts, Goldthwaite CISD

REGION 13A

Lynn Boswell, Austin ISD

REGION 13C

Bryan Holubec, Thrall ISD

REGION 14

Greg Welch, Clyde CISD

REGION 15

Raymond P. Meza, San Felipe Del Rio CISD

REGION 16

Cindy Spanel, Highland Park ISD-Potter County

REGION 17

Carlos Bentancourt, Slaton ISD

REGION 18

Steve Brown, Ector County ISD

REGION 19

Marlene Bullard, Tornillo ISD

REGION 20A

Ginger Friesenhahn, East Central ISD

REGION 20B

Carol Harle, Northside ISD-Bexar County

REGION 20D

Rich Sena, Boerne ISD

ESC 8, ESC REPRESENTATIVE

James Morton

* There are vacancies for Regions 4A, 6B, and 13B.

With tax season on the horizon, you’ll soon be tasked with the responsibility of gathering and allocating state funding and local property tax funds.

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• Avoid unnecessary faxing through use of online platform Contact Lone Star for the support you need.

1,397 Members Get Rebates

BuyBoard® is distributing rebates to the most recipients in a given year since the rebate program’s inception. For districts across the state, these rebates — funded by excess revenue from vendor service fees — are more than a check. They’re a way to reinvest in students, staff, and community priorities.

“...as budgets get tighter, the annual rebate check is certainly an appreciated bonus!” — Texas City ISD

“...a fantastic boost to our budget that allows us to reinvest in essential projects and resources for our students.” — La Porte ISD

TASB STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR

THE TASB ADVANTAGE BENEFITS OF ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

TASB was established in 1949 to serve Texas school boards across the state, so they have the solutions, products, training, and insights to operate with efficiency and excellence on behalf of their districts and communities.

Being a TASB Active Member offers many exclusive benefits designed to help districts save taxpayer money and keep resources in the classroom where they belong.

When your school board or education service center board joins TASB, you’ll also enjoy the advantages of being part of a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member-led organization that is accountable to school board trustees and public education leaders from across the state.

Expert Legal Assistance

• Access by phone to a team of school law attorneys

• Timely legal updates through eSource, a comprehensive online legal resource

• Seminars, trainings, and legislative summaries to help keep you informed and in compliance

• Additional opportunities to participate in subscription-based services, including our exclusive Legal Research Library

Strong Advocacy Network

• Member-led development of TASB Advocacy Agenda through grassroots process at local, regional, and state level

• Access to specialized tools, training, and legislative alerts to help advance and strengthen public education

• Subscription to The Legislative Report, an e-newsletter dedicated to the latest happenings at the Capitol

• Exclusive invitation to join the School Board Advocacy Network and attend members-only legislative conferences in Texas and Washington, D.C.

TASB MEMBERS GET MORE

Elective programs, services, and products

In addition to the extensive benefits of a basic TASB membership, those that join the Association have exclusive access to elective programs, services, and products designed to meet the unique needs of school districts.

Some services are offered separately, allowing members to select the services that best fit their local needs. Members may choose to take advantage of additional fee-based programs

TASB Risk Management Fund

• The largest and oldest risk pool in Texas serving school districts and other educational entities

• Access to comprehensive and competitive risk solutions and services

• Accountable leadership made up of school board trustees and administrators

• Timely training, resources, and insights to mitigate risk

Facility Services

like Policy Service, Executive Search Services, HR Services, Student Solutions, and Facility Services.

A TASB membership also opens the door to potential participation in affiliated entity programs, such as the BuyBoard®, TASB Risk Management Fund™, TASB Benefits Cooperative™, and TASB Energy Cooperative™, based on their eligibility criteria.

Participation in the Lone Star Investment Pool™, a TASB affinity program, does not require TASB membership.

• Facility assessments and long-range planning

• Environmental management and compliance for asbestos, lead, and air quality

• Integrated pest management

• Training, consulting, and staffing analysis

• Innovative program from exclusive outside provider to increase cellular connectivity

HR Services

• Salary and HR surveys, and access to TASB HRDataSource™

• Consulting services including compensation studies, HR and staffing reviews, and employee opinion surveys

• Access to the extensive HR Services Resource Library

• Specialized publications and products

• Access to trainings, webinars, and events

Trusted Expertise, Resources, and Publications

• Members-only access to digital updates and resources on tasb.org

• Specialized publications on trending public education issues and foundational board governance topics

• Assigned field representative who understands your district and region

• Free subscription to the award-winning Texas Lone Star magazine for up to 10 district contacts

• Monthly e-newsletter subscription to The Star on timely topics and training opportunities

Member Voice and Governance

• Opportunity to take part in TASB’s Delegate Assembly and Grassroots Meetings to help chart the future of public education and the Association

• Options to enhance leadership skills through statewide service on the TASB Board of Directors, offering regional representation and networking opportunities

• Confidence that you’re joining a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with more than 75 years of stability, success, and experience

Quality Professional Development

• Member access and member rates to signature training events, including Governance Camp, Summer Leadership Institute, and txEDCON

• Training opportunities close to home with regional Spring Workshops and other specialized programs including Fall Legal Seminars

• Access to the Online Learning Center, with 35 on-demand classes to fit your schedule

• Other opportunities for leadership development with specialized programming for trustees of all experience levels through Texas Trustee Institute, Board Officer Institute, and Leadership TASB

• Customized board development programs built to meet training and team-building needs

• Easy tracking and simplified reporting of continuing education credits through our proprietary digital tool, myCEC

Recognition and Accolades

• Invitation to submit nominations for prestigious Superintendent of the Year Award to honor outstanding public education leadership

• Toolkits and resources to celebrate School Board Recognition Month and Media Honor Roll

• Access to student programs and scholarships

Policy Service

• Policy Alerts and updates to publications in the Governance and Management Library

• Access to Policy Online®, a digital and accessible platform for your policy manual

• Dedicated consultant to assist with local policy updates that meet the needs of your district

• Specialized training webinars, e-newsletter subscription and best-in-class policy expertise

BuyBoard

• A trusted, compliance-focused procurement process that streamlines purchasing

• Competitive pricing, reduced administrative costs, and high-quality service

• Potential for annual member rebates

• Access to everything from school buses to pencils

Executive Search Services

• Strategic planning and leadership profiles

• Customized searches to fill key leadership roles

• Community engagement, transition services, and team building

• Satisfaction guaranteed

BoardBook® Premier

• Online access to meeting information and document management

• Intuitive navigation and streamlined features for ease of use

• Flexible range of permission options for all users

• Seamless cloud-based interaction

TASB Energy Cooperative

• Competitive, fixed electric and fuel rates to increase budget certainty

• Simplified procurement of energy products

• Member governed by leaders of school districts and other governmental entities

• Dedicated and responsive customer service

TASB Student Solutions

• Customizable special education model operating procedures

• Online and local training opportunities

• Access to online portal to streamline tracking and compliance

• Customizable Section 504 model operating procedures

• Program review and resources for special populations

TASB Benefits Cooperative

• Strong benefit plans to recruit and retain employees

• Voluntary options to extend your benefits packages

• Strength in numbers with more than 70,000 school employees enrolled to date

• Consulting services to evaluate district options

Plan Your 2026 Learning

Grassroots Advocacy

Play a direct role in shaping the TASB Advocacy Agenda by sharing your district’s priorities and collaborating with peers to strengthen public education across Texas.

Attend in person or by Zoom. Trustees must participate in their designated region.

January

February

Learning Journey

State and National

FEBRUARY

Texas Federal Advocacy Conference

Advocate for public schools and students. Washington, D.C.

MARCH

2-3 4-7

Governance Camp

The conference that inspires collaboration and amplifies student voice in school leadership.

Galveston

10-13

17-20

JUNE Fort Worth San Antonio

Summer Leadership Institute

TASB’s signature conference builds trustee skills and connections for effective governance. Especially valuable for new board members.

OCTOBER

8-11 10

txEDCON

Texas education leaders unite to connect, collaborate, and advance student success.

Houston

TASB Delegate Assembly

The annual event where Active Members shape TASB’s direction, elect TASB officers and directors, and approve the Advocacy Agenda.

Houston

Where trusted expertise meets local perspective.

March 16-May 20

Regional Workshops: Spring Registration and locations released February 2026 Throughout November

Regional Workshops: Fall Registration and locations released fall 2026

Looking for more online learning opportunities?

Stay sharp and in the know with TASB’s Online Learning Center (OLC) — your anytime, anywhere resource for school board trustee development.

Q&A: ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Brownsville ISD trustee gives a voice to the Valley

by Matt Mitchell

Daniella Lopez Valdez has served on the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees for just five years, but public education has been a passion of hers for much longer.

Her desire to serve public schools and her community stems from her South Texas upbringing. Her parents, Sylvia and Joey Lopez, served as trustees themselves, and her mother, who passed away earlier this year, was a public school teacher for 42 years. Together, they instilled in Lopez Valdez from a young age the importance of a strong education and giving back.

It’s safe to say she took that message to heart and ran with it.

Now president of her board, Lopez Valdez was named TASB’s 2025 Advocate of the Year at txEDCON in Houston in September. The Association has handed out this award annually since 2021 to trustees who go the extra mile in speaking up for their communities and advocating for Texas public education.

“This past year, Daniella stepped up in a big way for the students in her community and beyond,” said Kelly Rasti, associate executive director of TASB Governmental Relations. “She maintained a strong presence at the Capitol during the legislative session and was always there trying to make an impact, from testifying on important pieces of legislation, to talking with lawmakers and staffers. Wherever there was work to be done, we could count on her to be there.”

Texas Lone Star spoke with Lopez Valdez about her advocacy efforts. Her comments have been lightly edited.

Q: What inspired your passion for Texas public schools and being a leader in your community?

My mom was a teacher for 42 years and she was always very active in giving back to the community. She would always go above and beyond for the kids, and I got to see the way a passionate teacher can inspire so many students. Seeing everything she did, especially during the pandemic in 2020, which is the year I ran for school board, really made me want to channel my passion into doing something that can make a difference.

I saw schools in our region get shut down during the pandemic, when so many of our kids rely on them for a warm meal. I watched our bus drivers, counselors, and nurses and everything they did. And then seeing how our teachers had

to learn to do everything online, it all made me want to get involved.

I started looking into all the school finance issues when I became the budget chair, including teacher pay, and the legislation involved. I realized we needed to do something about the budget, so I started advocating.

I’ve been involved in the past two legislative sessions, and during the first one in 2023, we helped pass a bill that created an inclusive sports program for kids in special education. Our district was one of the first to pilot the program, and that was really inspiring.

Throughout the process, I started to recognize that if you’re not involved in all these conversations, people just forget or think you don’t care. I started to activate my region, which had been silent for a long time, and that’s why I started this advocacy journey.

Daniella Lopez Valdez, a Brownsville ISD trustee, was named TASB’s 2025 Advocate of the Year.

Photos by TASB Media Services

Q: What does being named Advocate of the Year mean to you?

It was very meaningful in a tough year for public education, and me personally. My mom was battling cancer, but she kept teaching through it all. In seeing that, I felt a strong need to be that advocate for her and her students.

Not everything from the legislative session might have turned out the way we wanted it to, but we brought more awareness to public education than anyone could have imagined. We gathered more people than ever before, including students and educators, and were in offices nonstop even before the session began.

I think we showed that education is a means to prosperity, and we have to give a voice to the voiceless. Everything we did was worth it, and receiving this honor means a lot, not only to myself and my community, but also to the 5.5 million Texas schoolchildren and all my trustee friends who serve them.

Q: Why do you think advocating for public education matters?

Advocating for our public schools matters because it is a means to an end for a lot of people. It is the foundation for a successful economy and the foundation for a successful future. Education is the greatest equalizer. It’s a warm meal. It’s a teacher who believes in a student when maybe no one else at home does. It’s a safe haven for many, and if we don’t advocate for that, then we’re not advocating for every child.

As local leaders, we must speak up for our communities to our officials, because local control is important. Advocacy is completely essential, and we cannot stay quiet.

Q: Do you have any advice for other trustees who want to be more involved in advocacy efforts?

I would encourage trustees to take a step back, look at where your schools’ needs are coming from, and make it a grassroots issue. You need to educate the community about the way the budget works, the way our schools are funded, the way mandates and policies come down from the state, and

how we implement those things. Because when you educate the community, they can join your fight and help you be an even bigger voice.

Grassroots work is essential. Our community needs to understand the different angles the burden on public education comes from. Advocacy is part of our mission, and it’s not just figuring out whether our school needs a new gym or if a school is going to have to close; it’s about looking at the bigger picture. We need to make sure every child can get a quality education and that is an effort that involves so many of us.

As trustees, we are the largest body of elected officials, and we are powerful. That’s why we can’t stay silent.

Q: What was your biggest advocacy highlight of 2025?

The biggest highlight for me was watching all of my fellow trustees come together during the legislative session. We would constantly be messaging each other when we were going to the Capitol and figuring out which legislators’ offices we wanted to go to. We created such a strong network of all of us being activated to do what we thought was right, whether it was calling a certain office or organizing and sending our teachers and students all together to be a powerful presence. And then on the day the school funding bill passed the House, the dais was full of people wearing red [to show support for public education], which was huge. We “won” in the House in the sense that we advocated for the basic allotment and got to show officials there what our communities wanted. It was powerful and it was essential.H

Matt Mitchell is a staff writer for Texas Lone Star.

Scan to join the School Board Advocacy Network to stay informed on important legislative and education news and to know when it’s time to take action for your district and Texas public schoolchildren in general.

Lopez Valdez poses with Alison Busse Savage (left), a TASB Director and Lyford CISD trustee, and Sylvia Sánchez Garza (right), vice president of the South Texas ISD school board and TASB’s Second Vice President.

Brownsville ISD trustees and other district leaders celebrate Lopez Valdez’s selection as TASB’s 2025 Advocate of the Year.

Board Members: MAP YOUR JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

TASB supports trustees at every point along the board leadership journey, offering training and programs to excel at board governance.

Texas Trustee Institute

TTI offers a comprehensive program to build skills, dive into governance, and develop a leadership network.

Key offerings: Texas Open Meetings Act, Board Governance, Consensus Building.

Coming soon!

Leadership TASB

For experienced trustees, meet with innovative districts and leaders, while learning what makes them successful. LTASB’s one-of-a-kind experience will expand your view of education leadership.

Learn more! leadershiptasb@tasb.org

Whole Board Training

Need support with your superintendent evaluation process? Board Development Services’ consultants are here to help! Get training tailored to your district’s needs.

board.dev@tasb.org

Foundational Training

Find on-demand courses for new trustees, including the Top 10 Things to Know bundle of essential courses, in the Online Learning Center.

onlinelearning.tasb.org

Experienced Trustees

Board Officer Institute

For veteran trustees and board officers, BOI imparts knowledge and tools for effective and efficient meetings.

Key offerings: Important Tools for Meeting Preparation, Effective Meetings, Focused and Productive Board Discussions.

Coming soon!

Continuing Education

With the Online Learning Center, you can find courses to support your board service, including: Preparing for Superintendent Evaluation, Board Officers Forum, and Advocacy 101 and 201.

onlinelearning.tasb.org

For additional information on any of these offerings: 800-580-8272, ext. 2453 • board.dev@tasb.org

onlinelearning.tasb.org

San Benito CISD

Bexar County

San Elizario ISD

Corpus Christi ISD

Pearsall ISD

Saginaw ISD

Austin ISD

Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Alvin

Grand

Sharyland

Monte

Greenville

Cooper ISD

Eanes ISD

Port Aransas ISD

Mansfield ISD

Mauriceville CISD

Jason Choate

Diane Hern

Kristi Littleton

Benita Reed

Clinton Temple Little Cypress-

A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

TASB members helped drive our progress

by Dan Troxell

As I reflect on the past year, it is with immense pride and gratitude for our members, who voted overwhelmingly at Delegate Assembly on Sept. 13 to approve both a new Mission statement and reimagined Cornerstone Principles for TASB.

The new Mission statement, last updated in 1996, builds on our past while also setting a powerful and clear course for the future about why we do what we do at TASB.

There’s never been a more important time to shine a bright light on our “why.” During the 89th legislative session, we found ourselves emphasizing both to lawmakers and the public why TASB is uniquely positioned to champion and support public education.

The main reason for this is our long track record of success — more than 75 years of trusted service in support of our school boards and their long tradition of local governance to advance excellent student outcomes in their schools.

The other key reason is TASB’s own governance structure. We are — and have always been — an Association led by our members who are elected to serve on the TASB Board of Directors.

These Directors — accountable to you, our members — deserve many thanks for their work in bringing forward the changes that were adopted at Delegate Assembly.

I think that’s what makes this Association so special: we trust in our members to provide expert governance in their school communities on behalf of their students, and they trust their TASB leaders to provide an incredible range of valuable programs and services to support that work.

In a nutshell, that’s our Mission statement, which you’ll see spelled out on page 19. You’ll also want to take some time to read our new Cornerstone Principles, another part of the Board’s work to rethink and reimagine how we educate others about our focus here at TASB and what we stand for when advocating at the Capitol.

Advocacy and accolades

In 2025, there was no better advocate for the more than 5.5 million public school students in Texas than Daniella Lopez Valdez, the Brownsville ISD board president whose work in Austin was so outstanding she was named TASB Advocate of the Year.

This annual award, now in its fifth year, was designed to help showcase members who go above and beyond in making sure lawmakers hear from those who know best how proposed legislation will affect our local public schools. Thank you, Daniella, for your tireless efforts this past year in speaking out on behalf of school boards across the state. You can read more about her on page 30.

Building on our momentum

As we look to the future, we do so with confidence, knowing that a strong foundation has been established, thanks to our TASB Board and our members. Before the end of 2025, our TASB Directors are expected to build on both the revised Mission statement and the reimagined Cornerstone Principles by voting on a new comprehensive strategic plan to guide all of our work at TASB over the next five years.

If the past year is any indication, there is no limit to what we can achieve when we stand together as an Association, united by our commitment to creating a better future for all of our students. On behalf of myself and the entire Team TASB, thank you for your dedication, your ideas, and your drive to make our Association stronger each day. With your continued participation and support, 2026 will bring even more opportunities to excel.H Dan Troxell is executive director of TASB.

Dan Troxell, TASB executive director

Photo by TASB Media Services

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 100% ATTENDANCE TEAMS AT txEDCON 2025!

TASB applauds the 66 Texas school districts listed below that sent 100% of their leadership team to txEDCON 2025 in Houston.

Academy ISD

Aldine ISD

Alice ISD

Alvin ISD

Anderson-Shiro CISD

Anthony ISD

Anton ISD

Arlington ISD

Beeville ISD

Belton ISD

Borger ISD

Bruceville-Eddy ISD

Campbell ISD

China Spring ISD

Crockett ISD-Houston County

Denton ISD

Dripping Springs ISD

Eastland ISD

Edgewood ISD-Bexar County

El Paso ISD

Florence ISD

Friendswood ISD

Friona ISD

Galena Park ISD

Galveston ISD

Greenville ISD

Hudson ISD

Huffman ISD

Krum ISD

Lamar CISD

Leggett ISD

Lewisville ISD

Liberty-Eylau ISD

Little Elm ISD

Lockhart ISD

Lubbock ISD

Marlin ISD

Milford ISD

New Braunfels ISD

Northside ISD-Bexar County

Northwest ISD

Olney ISD

Overton ISD

Pearland ISD

Pewitt CISD

Plainview ISD

Plano ISD

Port Arthur ISD

Ralls ISD

River Road ISD

Robinson ISD

Roosevelt ISD

Round Rock ISD

Sabine ISD

San Felipe Del Rio CISD

Santa Fe ISD

Seagraves ISD

South Texas ISD

Southwest ISD

Springtown ISD

Stafford Municipal School District

Temple ISD

Tomball ISD

Venus ISD

Whitney ISD

Wildorado ISD

Next month, TASB kicks off the new year honoring the dedicated individuals who tirelessly serve their communities as volunteers — school board members.

Scan the QR code to access our School Board Recognition Month Planning Kit, which includes sample materials to celebrate trustees, including:

• News release and proclamation

• Artwork for social media posts

• Customizable certificates for trustees and more!

Texas Association of School Boards

Texas

J A N. 1-15: Student Scholarship applications accepted.

JAN. 9: Session submissions for Governance, Student Voice, and District Demos close.

JAN. 14: Registration and Housing for Governance Camp opens. MARCH 4-7: Governance Camp conference dates!

Find information on all things Governance Camp at tasb.org/gov-camp.