2022 ATPE Summit: Back in Person and Focused on the Future

BACK IN PERSON & FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

July 6–8 | Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center | Grapevine

After two virtual ATPE Summits, we’re more than ready to leave our computer screens behind and gather in Grapevine for the biggest reunion ATPE members have ever seen. Make plans to attend the ATPE Summit July 6–8 to connect with friends (both old and new), grow as an educator and leader, and shape ATPE’s future during the House of Delegates.

WHAT’S IN STORE?

Earn up to 7 hours of CPE

In addition to keynotes by Alex Sheen, founder of Because I said I would, and Dr. Jill Siler, author of Thrive Through the Five, you’ll have the chance to attend your choice of sessions presented by your fellow ATPE members. Topics include classroom management, the power of positivity, accommodations for students to help them be successful, and apps and websites to enhance community engagement. In addition, our professional learning partners TCEA, the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented, and It’s Time Texas will present breakouts.

Use your voice in the House of Delegates

Delegates will elect the 2022-23 state officers and shape ATPE’s legislative priorities for the coming year. Visit atpesummit.org to review reports from the 2021-22 ATPE Legislative and Resolutions committees.

Focus on ATPE’s future

Enhance your volunteer leadership skills with sessions on future planning for local units, advocating at the school board level, using social media to your advantage, and more.

Mix and mingle at special events

On Wednesday evening, we’ll recognize the brightest stars in the ATPE universe with a celebration two years in the making! Thursday evening, kick back and enjoy the Gaylord Texan, or choose from special events, including a behind-the-scenes tour of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

HOW TO ATTEND

Registration

The delegate certification deadline is June 7. Per the ATPE State Bylaws, only local unit or region presidents are eligible to register and certify delegates for the summit. Please contact your local unit president to attend. If you are a current member but don’t belong to an active ATPE local unit, please contact your region president if you are interested in attending. Region presidents must register and certify at-large members. If you are unsure who your region president is or are having difficulty reaching your president, please email ATPE’s volunteer program coordinator at volunteer@atpe.org.

The registration fee is $150 until June 7; after that date, it increases to $160. The fee includes access to all general sessions, professional learning breakouts, volunteer training sessions, and the House of Delegates. Evening activities are available at an additional cost; visit atpesummit.org for details.

Hotel Reservations

Reserve your room at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center by June 7 through the housing link at atpesummit.org/housingreservations. Please do not contact the hotel directly. The room rate is $213 plus tax per night (for up to four people) and is inclusive of a $20 resort fee.

MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Opening Keynote: Alex Sheen

Alex Sheen is the founder of Because I said I would, a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept. Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost. Alex is someone who truly honors commitment. He once walked over 240 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to fulfill a promise. In just two years, Because I said I would has sent over 12.3 million promise cards to over 153 different countries. The promises written on these cards have made headlines around the world. Alex is a five-time TEDx Talk speaker, and his charitable work has been featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, The Today Show, NPR, and many other programs, as well as in The Los Angeles Times.

Closing Keynote: Dr. Jill Siler

Dr. Jill Siler served as the superintendent of Gunter ISD for nearly 10 years and now serves as the deputy executive director for professional learning at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). Jill has served as an educator for 25 years and began her career as a high school social studies teacher and coach before becoming a campus and district leader. Jill has a passion for impacting others and has been a frequent speaker to teachers and leaders alike.

Jill’s first book, Thrive Through the Five, was released in 2020, and focuses on how to thrive through the most challenging seasons.

Artist’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists

YOUR ATPE STATE OFFICER CANDIDATES

The 2022-23 state officer candidates will deliver speeches outlining their skills, backgrounds, qualifications, and philosophies beginning at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, July 7, during the House of Delegates Meeting. Delegates will cast their votes electronically between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. the same day. Only certified delegates may vote.

President Stacey Ward

ATPE leadership experience:

State vice president, secretary, and treasurer; member of the Bylaws, Finance, Legislative, PAC, Resolutions, and Services & Discounts committees; Region 4 director, president, vice president, secretary, and past president; Humble ATPE president, vice president, and secretary

ATPE recognition:

President of a Local Unit of the Year finalist; finalist for Educator of the Year

Current position:

Fifth grade math and science teacher in Humble ISD

Other leadership experience:

Mu Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma legislative chair; science and math professional development presenter in Humble ISD; previous member of superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Committee; fifth grade team leader on campus; student council co-sponsor; district and campus Math Olympiad sponsor; committeeman for the Western Heritage Community Challenge Committee; committeeman, captain, and assistant chair captain for the Corral Club at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Years in ATPE:

25

Years in education:

25

Vice President Jayne Serna

ATPE leadership experience:

State secretary and treasurer; chair of the board Finance Committee; member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance and Ad Hoc Committee on Region Governance; member of Educators Professional Liability and Employment Rights, Member Services, Resolutions, and Volunteer Advisory committees; Region 13 director, president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and past president; Leander ATPE president, membership committee chair, and campus representative

ATPE recognition:

Secondary Teacher of the Year; William B. Travis honoree; Stephen F. Austin honoree; ATPE-PAC Statesman; Ben Shilcutt Plus Club

Current position:

Adjunct professor of history at Austin Community College

Other leadership experience:

Member of the TEA/SBEC/T-TESS Classroom Teacher Standards Advisory and the TEA STAAR/EOC U.S. History Item Review committees; member of the Curriculum Development Committee for Leander ISD Social Studies; member of the site-based improvement committee for Leander High School; member of the City of Leander Bond Advisory and Comprehensive Plan Advisory committees; president and secretary of Leander Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; co-founder and president of Leander FC, a 600-plus player 501(c)(3) youth sports organization; and worship team member (keyboards and vocals), Hope Bible Fellowship, Round Rock

Years in ATPE:

33

Years in education:

33

Get to know the candidates online

All candidates have the opportunity to create short videos about their qualifications and vision for state officer service. Submitted candidate videos will be available at atpesummit.org/candidates starting June 1.

YOUR ATPE STATE OFFICER CANDIDATES

Secretary Jason Forbis

ATPE leadership experience:

State treasurer; chair of board Finance and Membership committees; chair of state ATPE Political Action, Legislative, and Professional Rights & Responsibilities committees; member of state Membership and Resolutions committees and Board of Directors Ad Hoc Committee on Fund Balances; vice president of ATPE Foundation board; Region 12 director, president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and past president; chairman of the Region 12 Scholarship Committee; Midway (12) ATPE president, membership chair, treasurer, and campus representative; Waco ATPE president, vice president, secretary, campus representative, and scholarship committee chair

ATPE recognition:

Region 12 Elementary Educator of the Year; Stephen F. Austin honoree; William B. Travis honoree; Ben Shilcutt Plus Club; ATPE-PAC Statesman; officer of Green Apple award-winning local unit

Current position:

First grade teacher in Midway (12) ISD

Other leadership experience:

Member of the MISD (12) Superintendent’s Spirit of Communication Council; Baylor University student teacher mentor; MISD (12) campus and district UIL coordinator; UIL campus coach; 2008 TEA state committee member; district science committee member, professional development presenter in MISD (12); coordinator of food drive for the Hunger Free MISD Program; member of First Baptist Woodway; certified pharmacy technician at H-E-B

Years in ATPE:

25

Years in education:

25

Treasurer MaElena Ingram

ATPE leadership experience:

Member of board Finance and Membership & Volunteer committees; chair of state Public Information Committee; member of state Leader Development, Leader of the Year, Legislative, Membership, Minority & Diverse Population Recruitment, and Nomination/Election committees; Region 1 director, president, vice president, and treasurer; member of Region 1 Finance Committee; McAllen ATPE president, vice president, and treasurer; Zapata ATPE president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer

ATPE recognition:

Three-time ATPE Campus Representative of the Year; president of three-time ATPE Local Unit of the Year; Sam Houston Award for Political Involvement; William B. Travis honoree; ATPE Foundation donor

Current position:

Middle school dyslexia teacher in McAllen ISD

Other leadership experience:

Member of McAllen ISD Insurance and Joint Professional Consultation committees; member of ESC Region 1 Teacher of the Year Committee; Humanities Texas Award; National Endowment for the Humanities Award

Years in ATPE:

40

Years in education:

40

2022 ATPE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

ATPE members from across the state will convene as the ATPE House of Delegates (HOD) on Thursday, July 7, during the ATPE Summit. Delegates will elect the 2022-23 state officers, vote on any proposed new business, and approve the ATPE Legislative Program.

Please visit atpesummit.org to review the reports of the 2021-22 ATPE Legislative and Resolutions committees. If you have any questions about the HOD business, please contact your region director. Find contact information for your region director at atpe.org/board-of-directors.

Treasurer Shane Whitten

ATPE leadership experience:

Chair and member of board Policy Committee; member of board Finance Committee; chair of state Bylaws Committee; member of state ATPE Political Action, Bylaws Ad Hoc, and Legislative committees; Region 16 director, president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer; Amarillo ATPE campus representative

ATPE recognition:

Stephen F. Austin honoree; William B. Travis honoree; ATPE-PAC Statesman

Current position:

Assistant principal in Amarillo ISD

Other leadership experience:

Member of Amarillo ISD Teacher of the Year and Benefits committees; Amarillo ISD mentor; United Way Community Investment Committee; music minister, Hillcrest Baptist Church

Years in ATPE:

27

Years in education:

27

Treasurer Jerrica Liggins

ATPE leadership experience:

Chair of Leadership and Nomination/ Election committees; member of Educator of the Year, Legislative, and Membership committees; Region 8 president, secretary, treasurer, and past president; Region 10 secretary; Paris ATPE president, secretary, and campus representative; Cooper Bulldogs ATPE founder and president; ATPE at the Capitol panelist; inaugural class of Leadership ATPE; membership campaign model

ATPE recognition:

Stephen F. Austin honoree, William B. Travis honoree, ATPEPAC Statesman

Current position:

Secondary education director at Paris ISD

Other leadership experience:

District UIL, county spelling bee, and CCMR coordinator; districtwide action and District of Innovation committee member; secondary campus needs assessment resource officer; professional learning communities mediator; HB 3 board goals and HB 4545 planning committee member; secondary academic advisor; mentor teacher; administrator mentor; CHAMPion mentor; YoungLife Lamar County mentor; Paris Downtown Food Pantry board member; Lamar County United Way campaign chair; Paris Debutante Scholarship Committee member; Teacher of the Year nominee, selection committee member; Mesquite ISD Excellence in Teaching Incentive Program; student council sponsor; cheer coach; political campaign volunteer; conference turn-around trainer: TCWSE, Texas ASCD, TASBE, and TASSP; superintendent certification; deaconess, usher and youth leader assistant at Paris New Generation Baptist Church

Years in ATPE:

12

Years in education:

12