President’s Message

JOHJANIA NÁJERA 2025 TASPA PRESIDENT

It is May 2025, so it is quite fitting to wish all: “may the force be with you”, as we end a school year while planning and working to open a new one even though graduations have not taken place yet!

In February, I started my message with “In the middle of a storm…”, well, it has been actually storming these past few days. Please, take a moment to admire and take in how green the grass and trees look after these dark skies and incredible lightning shows go away. Have you ever wondered why the grass and trees are greener after a storm? Scientists say that the lightning in the storm acts like natural fertilizers and the rain washes away pollutants. I see it as bringing new growth and hope. One of my favorite songs even reminds me of this:

A veces llega la Lluvia

Para limpiar las heridas

A veces solo una gota Puede vencer la sequía…

I close with a simple reminder: think about the storm and the green grass effect, focus on doing the best you can each day to lead in our craft with dignity, grace and love of public schools and the students we serve. Continue to reach out to TASPA and HR friends for support and help. We have an opportunity this July to come together to learn, share and encourage our growth and hope as we enter a new school year ahead.

I hope to see everyone at TASPA Summer Conference!

Correction in February 2025 Article

The authors of Teacher Rights in Texas: Creatively Using Your DOI to Increase Your Flexibility (TASPA Newsletter, February 2025 Edition, https://issuu.com/taspa/docs/taspa_hr_ connection_-_february_2025/s/67258460) would like to correct one of the proposed exemptions. TEA has since rejected any exemption to TEC Section 21.210 (regarding the penalty-free resignation date) on grounds that “that section cannot be exempted since it is not applicable to school districts.” Because that statute, as written, is optional for Chapter 21 employees (and not a requirement of the ISD), it cannot be utilized as an exemption in a DOI.