March/April 2023 Texas School Business

Texas School Business

2023

Community effort

Camp Eagle makes summer in rural Texas a lot cooler

Also in this issue:

TASBO President Shay Adams

TASB President Debbie Gillespie

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From the editor

Spring, I think, inarguably brings about the best weather Texas has to offer. For many of us, with that warmth and rebirth comes inspiration, and I hope you’ll find plenty of that in this issue of Texas School Business.

Our state is as diverse as it is large. With such a vast landscape and substantial populace, it can be easy to overlook the smaller communities peppered across the terrain. In this issue, we highlight one such community and take a look at how the folks in Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD have partnered with the local branch of a junior college to offer students and their families a robust, enriching and educational summer experience.

It takes a village, and by reaching out, the district has been able to kick off a program that’s sure to better the entire community as a whole. You can read all about their experiences starting on page 12.

In this issue’s Student Voices column, we hear from two young students who took to the (virtual?) airwaves and created a podcast devoted to their experiences in the Future Farmers of America. I listened to a couple of episodes, and I can definitely say I learned a lot. Get to know them in their piece, which you’ll find on page 20.

As always, if you know of a student who’d be interested in writing for Student Voices, or an arts educator who’d like to write about their program for our The Arts section, please reach out to me at drivers@texasschoolbusiness.com

Thank you for reading and sharing Texas School Business!

Dacia Rivers Editorial Director

Texas School Business

MARCH/APRIL 2023

Volume LXX, Issue 2

406 East 11th Street

Austin, Texas 78701

Phone: 512-477-6361

www.texasschoolbusiness.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Dacia Rivers

DESIGN

Phaedra Strecher

COLUMNISTS

Riney Jordan

Jim Walsh

ADVERTISING SALES

Jennifer Garrido

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kevin Brown

DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

Amy Francisco

The Principals’ Institute (PI) is a year-long professional development series that provides a unique opportunity for principals to understand why transformation of public education is necessary. PI is designed to help principals develop the knowledge and skills required to be transformational leaders and to help build the capacity it takes to sustain transformation over time. The PI experience includes exposure to influential superintendents and speakers, such as Eric Sheninger, Rob Evans, George Couros, Dwight Carter, John Tanner, Jimmy Casas, and Joe Sanfelippo.

Logistics:

• Registration Fee: $6,000.00 per participant (excluding travel expenses)

• Six, 2-day sessions alternating between Austin, Dallas, and Houston

The Assistant Principal Leadership Academy (APL) provides learning opportunities to develop, challenge, and inspire assistant principals to be transformative leaders. APL participants will engage in processes which support the development of skills specific to transformational leadership and building a learning organization while preparing them for the role of principal.

Logistics:

• Registration Fee: in-person sessions - $1,000 per participant (excluding travel expenses); virtual sessions - $1,000 per participant

• Six, 4-hour sessions throughout the year

The Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) is designed to build the capacity of district executive leaders for system-wide improvements in teaching and learning. Sessions will include opportunities for leaders to cultivate strategic approaches and actions in order to support district transformational efforts. The ELI experience includes exposure to influential superintendents and speakers, such as Eric Sheninger, Rob Evans, George Couros, John Tanner, Jimmy Casas, and Joe Sanfelippo. In addition to the scheduled sessions, each participant will receive the support of an Executive Coach throughout the year.

Logistics:

• Registration Fee: $4,500.00 per participant (excluding travel expenses)

• Four, 2-day sessions alternating between Austin, Dallas, and Houston

The Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) is a boundarybreaking institute for classroom teachers. Throughout the 6 sessions, committed teachers are empowered to revitalize learning cultures while leaning N2 an inspired future. Centered on teacher voice and grounded in a foundation of collaboration, the Teacher Leadership Institute challenges teachers to move beyond accountability standards and toward innovative learning that ignites student engagement.

Logistics:

• Customized for individual districts or regional consortiums of districts

• Six full day sessions

Who’s News

Austin ISD

Matias Segura has been named interim superintendent of Austin ISD. Previously the district’s chief of operations, he has 16 years of experience in construction management, real estate and operations. Prior to joining AISD, he was director of the Travis County Civil and Family Complex, leading the program to the construction of a new courthouse. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a master’s degree in finance from the University of Texas.

Bastrop ISD

The inaugural principal of Colony Oaks Elementary School, scheduled to begin operations in August, will be Kristi Kisamore. She brings 15 years of experience to her new position, including stints in Hillsboro and Red Rock ISDs, taking her first administrative job in 2018 when she was named assistant principal of Bastrop Intermediate School. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio with a master’s degree from Lamar University.

Bastrop ISD has selected Augustina Lozano to serve as the first principal of the new Camino Real Elementary School, set to open in August. Currently an associate principal in Lockhart ISD, she has 20 years of experience as an educator. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University and her master’s degree from Concordia University. Her doctorate was awarded from Texas A&M University.

Kasie Stagman, who has served as interim principal of Cedar Creek High School since June, has been confirmed as principal. She has been an educator for 15 years, beginning as a teacher and coach at Bastrop High and also working in Dickinson and Del Valle ISDs. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne University and a master’s degree in school and clinical counseling from Lamar University.

Caldwell ISD

Sean Witherwax is the new athletic director and head football coach at Caldwell High School. He has been a coach for 26 years, the past six at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station ISD.

Canutillo ISD (El Paso)

The Canutillo ISD board of trustees has approved the appointment of longtime district administrator

Andrea Esparza as principal of Canutillo Elementary School. She has 20 years of experience in Canutillo and El Paso ISDs and was most recently dean of students at Northwest Early College High School. She received her bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree in education administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Clear Creek ISD

Karen Engle is the district’s new superintendent. A product of Clear Creek ISD schools, she previously worked as a teacher, elementary and high school principal and assistant superintendent of secondary education for the district.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

Yeager Elementary School’s new principal is Tyler Hart, former assistant principal of Woodard Elementary School. Now in his 18th year as an educator, he began his career in Virginia, coming to Texas to join Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education leadership and policy studies from the University of Richmond. Now serving as principal of Hopper Middle School is Felicia Hayes, who was Watkins Middle School’s director of instruction. She began her career in 2000 in College Station ISD before transferring to Aldine ISD and joining CFISD in 2009. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a master’s degree from Lamar University and a doctorate in education from the University of Houston.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s newest campus, at present designated Elementary School No. 58, will be led by Renee Silliman when it opens its doors in August. Currently leading Hemmenway Elementary, she is a 24-year educator who joined CFISD in 2009 as an assistant principal. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of St. Thomas and a doctorate from the University of Houston.

Kia Willis has been promoted from assistant principal of Andre Elementary School to principal of Wilson Elementary. An educator for 22 years, she came to CFISD

in 2012 as a teacher before becoming a reading and language arts specialist. Her bachelor’s degree was awarded from Baylor University and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Denton ISD

Navo Middle School’s new principal is Toni Goodman, who joined the district in 2006 and was the school’s assistant principal before being named its interim principal in December. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Shaw University and her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University.

The new principal of Rivera Elementary School, Rachel Hix, began her career in Irving ISD, leaving that district six years later for a position in Duncanville ISD. She came to Denton in 2019 as assistant principal of Hodge Elementary.

Eddy Russell has been promoted from assistant director of fine arts to director. He has been with the district since 2000, working as assistant director and director of bands and director of bands at Ryan High School. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of North Texas.

El Paso ISD

Sandra Calzada is El Paso ISD’s new director of connecting languages, coming to the district from El Paso’s Ysleta ISD, where she was an elementary principal. She earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in educational administration and doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Nick DeSantis, former assistant principal of Bowie High School, is now principal of Charles Middle School. He is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a master’s degree from the University of Rochester.

Now serving as principal of Stanton Elementary School is Mily Gamez-Alvarado, who was assistant principal of Austin High School. Both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees were awarded from the University of Texas at El Paso.

The new principal of Canyon Hills Middle School, Bertha Martinez, led Lamar Elementary School since 2006. Before that assignment, she was an assistant principal at Hart and Burnet elementaries. She earned

by Jim Walsh

Is it even possible to create a social media account that is limited to just a few people? That’s what Cedric Epple (soon to be known as “the Plaintiff”) attempted to do. His intent was to keep this account to a few carefully selected friends so that they could share memes, images and comments, “which other people might not find funny or appropriate.”

What Cedric posted, and his fellow students added to or “liked,” went way beyond “not funny.” I’m not going to describe the posts in detail here, but let’s just summarize the content as the 9th Circuit did:

These ranged from immature posts making fun of a student’s braces, glasses, or weight to much more disturbing posts that targeted vicious invective with racist and violent themes against specific Black classmates.

After he was expelled, the Plaintiff alleged that the school had infringed on his free speech rights. He did this off campus. He argued that the school had no authority to discipline him. After all, he had not intended for his posts to be seen by anyone but about 13 people who he had approved to follow this private account.

The Plaintiff’s plan to maintain a tight circle quickly fell apart. One of his followers showed some of the content to one of the Black students who was shown on the account with a noose around her neck. She then told others. Then a student who was not following the account asked to borrow the phone of a student who was approved to follow it. The kid said she needed the phone to call her mom, but that was a lie. Instead, she took the phone to the bathroom where she and a friend took pictures of some of the incendiary content.

So, all of a sudden, knowledge of this “private” account was widespread. An A.P. said that the school counselors and mental health staff, “were inundated with students

needing help to handle their feelings of anger, sadness, betrayal and frustration about the racist posts and comments in the Instagram account.” The superintendent described the impact of all this as “significant and ongoing.”

But let’s get back to the Plaintiff’s insistence that it wasn’t his fault. He took steps to keep things private. It was those other kids who spread things around. The 9th Circuit displayed a common sense approach to that argument. The Plaintiff’s “intent” was irrelevant:

Given the ease with which electronic communications may be copied or shown to other persons, it was plainly foreseeable that Epple’s posts would ultimately hit their targets, with resulting significant impacts to those individual students and to the school as a whole.

The court offered a colorful metaphor:

Epple again emphasizes that he did not ever intend for the targets of his posts to ever see them. But having constructed, so to speak, a ticking time bomb of vicious targeted abuse that could be readily detonated by anyone following the account, Epple can hardly be surprised that his school did not look the other way when that shrapnel began to hit its targets at the school.

This is a solid and important decision from a high level court that should assure school administrators that they are on firm ground when dealing with this kind of bullying, even when it is “only” on social media and “only” done off campus. In fact, ignoring behavior like this could lead to charges that the school was complicit in the creation of a racially hostile environment.

It’s Chen v. Albany USD, decided by the 9th Circuit on Dec. 27, 2022. It can be found at 56 F.4th 708.

JIM WALSH is an attorney with Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle PC. He can be reached at jwalsh@wabsa.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @jwalshtxlawdawg.

> Continued from page 7

her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Jesus Mendoza has been promoted from assistant principal of Herrera Elementary School to principal of Zavala Elementary. An educator since 2010, he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Juarez and a master’s degree from the University of Texas Permian Basin.

The district’s new executive director of specialized learning is Veronica Reyes, who joins EPISD from El Paso’s Socorro ISD, where she was director of bilingual education. She holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees, in science instruction and educational administration, from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Nuri Robles, newly appointed principal of Navarette Middle School, was most recently assistant principal of Bowie High. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso with a master’s degree from the University of Texas Permian Basin.

Former Park Elementary School assistant principal Elaine Vasquez now leads Barron Elementary. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and her master’s degree from Sul Ross State University.

Galveston ISD

Delton Kelly, an employee of the district for 15 years, has been selected to serve as director of maintenance and operations.

Groesbeck ISD

The district’s new superintendent is Anthony Figueroa, who comes to Groesbeck from Wolfe City ISD, where he also held the top position.

Happy ISD

Now serving as superintendent is Trevor Edgemon, who most recently was Petersburg ISD’s elementary principal.

Jourdanton ISD

Tracy Canter, newly appointed superintendent, comes to Jourdanton from IraanSheffield Collegiate ISD, where she was superintendent for two years. Prior to that, she was executive director of special services at Ector County ISD. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Texas

Permian Basin and her doctorate in the same field from Texas Tech University.

Judson ISD (San Antonio)

Milton Fields, now serving as superintendent, was the district’s deputy superintendent of administration and operations since 2018. He began his career in 2002 in San Antonio’s Northside ISD. He is a graduate of Judson High School who went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University, a master’s degree in human resources and management from Webster University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Texas A&M at Kingsville.

The district’s new director of maintenance is Christopher Ramirez, who comes to Judson ISD from San Antonio’s Harlandale ISD, where he held the same position and previously served as director of transportation.

Katy ISD

Schmalz Elementary School’s new principal, Kara Fox, is a 26-year educator who began her career in Alief ISD, joining Katy ISD in 2016 and most recently serving as assistant principal of Mayde Creek Elementary. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and her master’s degree in educational management from the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Carole Langley, newly named principal of Stephens Elementary School, has been an educator for 18 years, beginning in Aldine ISD. She came to Katy ISD in 2008 and was most recently assistant principal of McRoberts Elementary. She is a graduate of LeTourneau University with a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Keller ISD

Shellie Johnson, who for the past 15 years was Keller ISD’s chief communications officer, retired at the end of December.

KISD’s new chief communications officer is Bryce Nieman, who joined the district in 2008 and most recently served as director of communications and legislative affairs. A product of Keller ISD schools, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and his juris doctor degree from Southern Methodist University.

Kerrville ISD

Jarrett Jachade, who was the district’s assistant superintendent of business services, has accepted the position of interim superintendent. He began his career as a high school math teacher, coach and assistant principal before becoming principal of the district’s Tivy High in 2012. He is a graduate of Lamar University with a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Killeen ISD

Former Wood Elementary School assistant principal Katie Hequembourg has been promoted to principal of Saegert Elementary. She has spent 14 of her 22 years as an educator in Killeen ISD, previously serving as a curriculum and instruction specialist and dyslexia teacher. She holds a master’s degree in elementary administration from William Woods University.

Former Saegert Elementary principal Eli Lopez is now the district’s director of multilingual services. She has been with Killeen ISD since 1993, working as an instructional aide, teacher and assistant principal as well as principal of Sugar Loaf Elementary. Her master’s degree in elementary administration was awarded from Texas A&M University of Central Texas.

Kingsville ISD

Kingsville ISD announces the hiring of Ruben Garcia as the district’s athletic director. He comes to Kingsville from Falfurrias ISD, where he was head football coach and athletic director since 2020. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Kingsville and holds two master’s degrees, in sports administration from Concordia University and educational administration from Lamar University.

Lake Travis ISD

The district has hired Lianka Soliz as director of food and nutrition services. She comes to her new position from the Harris County Department of Education, where she was a nutrition services specialist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the University of the Incarnate Word and her master’s degree in business administration from Texas Woman’s University.

Leander ISD

Leander ISD has confirmed Jeff Strickland as principal of the Leander Extended Opportunity (LEO) Center after he served in that position in an interim capacity since July. His 20year career has included assignments in Hutto, Dripping Springs, Round Rock and Boys Ranch ISDs, and he has been with Leander ISD since 2020. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.

McKinney ISD

Former Bennett Elementary School assistant principal Kassie Halpin has been chosen to lead the school as principal. She has 14 years of experience as an educator, having served in Allen ISD as well as McKinney. Her bachelor’s degree was awarded from the University of Dallas and her master’s degree in educational administration from Lamar University. After eight years in the district’s top position, superintendent Rick McDaniel will retire at the end of the school year. This will bring to a close his 35-year career in Texas public school education, which included stints as a teacher, coach and principal as well as superintendent.

Manor ISD

Former Pioneer Crossing Elementary School assistant principal Ryane Gaston now leads the campus as principal. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Texas State University.

Kristina Muehling, newly appointed principal of Bluebonnet Trail Elementary School, began her career in Indiana before coming to Texas, where she worked in Round Rock and Austin ISDs, in 2008. She served as assistant principal and principal of Austin’s Brykerwoods Elementary School, joining Manor ISD in 2022 as an instructional coach.

Tamey Williams-Hill has been chosen to serve as Manor ISD’s interim superintendent. She joined the district in 2020 as chief human capital officer after working for 20 years in Austin ISD as a teacher and administrator. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas State University, where she also earned her master’s degree in education administration and her doctorate in school improvement.

Marble Falls ISD

The district has announced the appointment of Jeff Gasaway as interim superintendent. He has been with Marble Falls ISD since 2016, serving as assistant superintendent and, most recently, deputy superintendent. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University at Commerce, and a doctorate from Baylor University.

Medina Valley ISD

Brandi Hendrix, who was most recently Brenham ISD’s assistant superintendent of leadership and learning, is now assistant superintendent of Medina Valley ISD. Prior to her time with Brenham ISD, she was principal of Montgomery ISD’s high school.

Midland ISD

Now serving as deputy superintendent is Roberto Cedillo, who comes to Midland from Ector County ISD, where he was executive director of leadership.

The Midland ISD board of trustees has chosen former Crane ISD superintendent Stephanie Howard as superintendent. She previously worked in Midland ISD as principal of San Jacinto Junior High and Lee High School before accepting the role of superintendent of Plains ISD and deputy superintendent of Ector County ISD. She joined Crane ISD in 2021.

The district’s new associate superintendent for teaching and learning is Ashley Osborne, a former employee of Ector County ISD, where she was executive director of leadership.

Cynthia Rodriguez has been approved to lead South Elementary School as principal. Her most recent assignment was in Crane ISD.

Miller Grove ISD Superintendent

Steve Johnson, who has led the district for over 19 years, will retire at the end of the school year. Prior to taking the top position in the district, he was principal of Miller Grove High School and previously served in Meadow and Quinlan ISDs.

Northeast ISD (San Antonio)

The district has announced the following administrative appointments:

• Merry Garcia, director of health services;

• Hannah Jackson, associate principal, Tomlinson Elementary School;

• Christina Lora, academic dean, Hobby Middle School;

• Genevieve Orozco, academic dean, Vale Middle School.

Northwest ISD (Fort Worth)

Mark Foust has been named superintendent of Northwest ISD after holding that position in Kerrville ISD for the past six years. He spent the first 21 years of his career with Fort Bend ISD as a teacher, associate principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Houston at Victoria. He earned his doctorate in professional leadership from the University of Houston.

Paradise ISD

New superintendent Will Brewer has joined the district from Stamford ISD, where he also held the top position. He began his career in Abilene ISD as a history teacher and coach, going on to work in Wylie ISD and as business manager and superintendent of Ballinger ISD.

Pettus ISD

Katie Atkins has been named superintendent of Pettus ISD. She most recently served as Westwood ISD’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and leadership. Prior to that, she was chief of staff of Midland ISD, director of English/language arts and dyslexia in Tomball ISD, and Klein ISD’s English/language arts program coordinator. She is a graduate of Howard

> See Who’s News, page 15

A community effort

Camp Eagle makes summer in rural Texas a lot cooler

by Dacia Rivers

▲ Students in Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD participate in summer enrichment activities including art classes.

With summer on the horizon, school-age children across Texas are preparing for camps, summer school, and other activities to keep them occupied during the break. But for students in remote, rural areas of the state, enrichment opportunities aren’t as plentiful as they are for kids in more urban or centrally located areas.

In the town of Pecos, located about halfway between Lubbock and El Paso, and 75 miles away from the nearest Target, the school district and local branch of a nearby junior college have teamed up to offer students and their families new summer opportunities that are as enjoyable as they are educational.

In 2013, Odessa College’s main campus in Odessa (some 80 miles away from Pecos) began a program called College for Kids, which put on educational summer programming for local elementary and middle school students. Seeing the program’s success, staff at the school’s Pecos Center campus realized that students in their community could also benefit from a similar program.

“Our students don’t necessarily have all the same opportunities that students in bigger cities have, to be able to go to a museum or get some enrichment that way,” says Alessandra Ortega, executive director of extension areas at Odessa College-Pecos Center.

At first, the Pecos Center’s summer program started off small. At the same time, the local school district, Pecos-BarstowToyah ISD, was running a small summer program mostly for bilingual pre-K and kindergarten students. After applying for a Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Grant, the district received funds for a summer learning program and school staff decided they wanted to do something fun for the students.

Ortega sat down to talk with Kelsey Riley, who serves as elementary coordinator of curriculum and instruction in PBTISD, about the possibility of the college and district teaming up, and the partnership has been a match made in heaven.

Robin Garcia, director of federal programs and special populations in PBTISD, says that the partnership has allowed for a robust summer program in the district. Since its kickoff in summer 2022, the program has offered a daily three hours of academic and three hours of enrichment opportunities to students in pre-K through fifth grade.

“We can offer so many more opportunities by partnering with Odessa College than just

doing the enrichment ourselves,” Garcia says.

A typical day for students in the summer program starts off with a morning meeting. Afterwards, younger students do enrichment work on the district’s campuses, while older students split their time between academic work, if applicable, and traveling to the Pecos Center for enrichment activities.

The Pecos Center named the enrichment program Camp Eagle, and Ortega says the content changes from week to week. Students switch between several offerings, including art, ballet folklórico, guitar and jiujitsu.

Thanks to grant money, families pay no tuition to enroll their students in any of the

summer academic or enrichment programs with the district or the college. Ortega says that before the partnership, the college did have to charge students a fee for admission to the summer program.

“When Kelsey Riley approached me, I was thinking this has always been our dream to be able to offer the opportunity to students who maybe couldn’t afford that tuition,” Ortega says. “With the partnership with the district, we’re actually reaching those students who may not have had that opportunity. It’s mutually beneficial.”

Sam Anchondo, director of the Pecos Center, says that the college has also been able to provide scholarships to students who want to participate in the Camp Eagle

> See A community effort, page 14

▲ Through a partnership with Odessa College, PBTISD offers unique summer enrichment opportunities, including ballet folklórico dancing.

enrichment programs even if they aren’t attending summer school in PBTISD.

“We were able to go to community members and say, ‘Are you willing to sponsor this kid?’” Anchondo says. “I went to the banks, and one bank sponsored 10 kids.”

For the district, the college, and the entire Pecos community, the hope for enrichment programs such as Camp Eagle is that they boost everyone who lives and works in the area. To this end, this summer, the Pecos Center will also offer GED and ESL classes that parents can attend, free of charge, while their students are at the center.

“The plan for parents is, maybe if they need to have a GED, or if they want to learn how to speak English, we can help them out.” Anchondo says. “And we can also provide personal enrichment for them; we have cake decorating classes, guitar classes. We had their kids last year, this year hopefully we can bring the adults into the college.”

Garcia says that the district’s hope for the summer program is that it helps close the academic gap. Her goal is to get kids on their grade levels, but also to give them expanded learning opportunities through enrichment that they might not otherwise receive.

“It’s about a lifelong opportunity to help kids and their families to do work other

than what they may have known they can do in a rural area,” she says.

Ortega sees introducing PBTISD students and their parents to Odessa College as a key to building a relationship that will promote advanced education for more people in the community.

“For these students, when they’re in high school, they may become a dualcredit student with Odessa College and take classes, and this is their initial step to that process,” she says. “Moreover, parents sometimes have this idea that they want to go back to school or pursue their GED, but being able to walk into the building can bring on an overwhelming sense of emotions. So we’re building that relationship and planting that seed that we may not see the fruit of right away, but eventually down the road we will.”

In the first year of the combined summer program, 300 PBTISD students participated. The program’s second summer will look a bit different, as the district is currently constructing two new elementary schools and will have limited space until their completion. Garcia says the program will continue as long as the funding exists, and district parents are loving it so far.

“Our parents have been really excited about what opportunities the kids were

able to be a part of last year, and kids were beyond excited about the benefits they received,” she says. “I think they thought it was going to be the dreaded summer school experience, but whenever they had these other opportunities with Odessa College, they were hugging and crying and they didn’t want it to be over.”

Pecos is far from the only small, remote community in Texas, and Garcia, Ortega and Anchondo believe that similar programs could be instituted in other communities. Their advice for getting started? Reach out, plan ahead, and remain flexible.

“Reach out to your local community college, even if it’s just for virtual opportunities at first, and give that partnership a chance,” Garcia suggests. “It might not even be a community college, it could be a community center or chamber of commerce, just somebody in the area that you could have a partnership with.”

Ortega stresses that planning is essential. “The common denominator is making sure you account for all of the things that need to happen and allow yourself enough time to troubleshoot. And be flexible and adaptable, as things change.”

DACIA RIVERS is editorial director of Texas School Business.

▲ PBTISD and Odessa College are able to offer summer enrichment experiences to students at no cost, thanks to grant funding.

Who’s News

> Continued from page 11

Payne University with master’s and doctoral degrees in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston.

Plano ISD

The Plano ISD board of trustees has hired Veronica Couzynse as executive director of purchasing and warehouse operations. She has been with the district for 25 years, most recently as assistant director of purchasing.

Stefanie Ramos, new director of human resources, is now in her 27th year with Plano ISD, the past eight as principal of Daffron Elementary.

Robinson ISD

Chris Lancaster is the new head football coach at Robinson High School. He comes to Robinson from Academy ISD, where he held the same position at Academy High. Prior to that, he was offensive coordinator at Troy ISD and was Bruceville-Eddy ISD’s athletic director and head football coach for five years.

Rockdale

Hunter Hamrick has been named athletic director and head football coach. He was previously the district’s offensive coordinator and has spent the past five years as athletic director and head football coach at Ingleside ISD.

Round Rock ISD

New assistant chief of police Rose White has 30 years of experience in law enforcement, 20 of those in school settings. Most recently police captain for the School District of Palm Beach County (Fla.), she is a graduate of Edinboro University.

Scurry-Rosser ISD

Ronny Snow has accepted the position of district superintendent. He is a 30-year educator who spent 11 years as a teacher and coach before becoming an administrator, serving as an assistant principal, principal and director in Athens and Malakoff ISDs, and as principal of Scurry-Rosser Middle School. He was most recently employed in Rusk ISD as that district’s high school principal.

Sherman ISD

Meghan Cone, now serving as chief communications officer, has worked for 12 years in Texas school communications, including positions in Frisco and Fort Worth ISDs. She also spent five years as a television reporter, anchor and producer. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and is nearing completion of her master’s degree in strategic communication and innovation from Texas Tech University.

The district’s new director of finance, Carly Snead, brings 16 years of experience in Texas public school finance, coming to Sherman from Bonham ISD, where she was chief financial officer. Additional assignments have been in Melissa, Community and Northwest ISDs. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University.

Sierra Blanca ISD

The new district superintendent is Leeann McGraw. She began her career in Center ISD, worked as a teacher and principal in Pecos-BarstowToyah ISD, and most recently was McCamey ISD’s middle school principal.

Tyler ISD

Tyler Legacy High School head football coach and athletic coordinator Joe Willis has announced his upcoming retirement, effective the end of this academic year. He has been an educator for 30 years, 14 of those as a head coach.

Victoria ISD

Longtime Victoria East High School head football coach Roland Gonzalez will retire at the end of this school year after spending 33 years as a coach, the past 11 at Victoria East.

Waco ISD

Bradford McMillan, a 12-year educator, has been selected to serve as principal of Tennyson Middle School. He comes to Waco from Killeen ISD, where was Killeen High School’s assistant principal. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and his master’s degree from Tarleton State University.

West Oso ISD (Corpus Christi)

Conrado Garcia, who has served as superintendent since 2016, has retired after 44 years in education. Initially an employee of Corpus Christi ISD, where he worked as principal of Miller High School and the district’s alternative high school, he joined West Oso ISD in 2013 as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

White Deer ISD

The district’s new superintendent is Duane Limbaugh, who for the past four years served as superintendent of Schulenburg ISD.

Wills Point ISD

Now leading Wills Point ISD is Richard Cooper, who was superintendent of CorriganCamden ISD since 2019. The 25-year educator previously held the top position in Kennard and Garrison ISDs. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Ysleta ISD (El Paso)

The district has announced the appointment of Amy Sanchez as its internal auditor. She began her career in the private sector in 2001 and was most recently Ysleta ISD’s senior staff auditor. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

David Solis, former director of accounting and payroll, is now Ysleta ISD’s director of accounting and payroll. He has worked in both the public and private sectors since 2004, including assignments in Tornillo and Canutillo ISDs. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso. ◀

Do you have good news to share about your district?

Whether she was expecting it or not, public education called Shay Adams into service. Herself a product of Texas public schools, Adams, who had a challenging home life in her youth, was inspired by her own high school accounting teacher, Nan Brown.

“She introduced me to this beautiful world of debits and credits and reconciliation, and I fell in love with accounting.”

Adams, who serves as assistant superintendent for business in Little Elm ISD, was the first person on either side of her family to get a degree, and she followed her passion for accounting into the industry. But when her husband became a superintendent more than 20 years ago, she saw another way to use her love of accounting.

“I was always envious watching the direct impact he had on kids’ lives, and on staff members’ lives,” Adams says. “When he became a superintendent, he had an immediate need for assistance on the business side of things, because that wasn’t in his wheelhouse.”

In an effort to help out, Adams started attending events put on by the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) alongside her husband. It was a move that soon led her to a career change.

“I saw a great need and opportunity, not only for my career, but to really use my skills to help students from the avenues that I can,” Adams says.

Shay Adams ignites a passion for public school business

by Dacia Rivers

Adams started out in New Diana ISD, then moved to North Texas where she has held various school business positions since 2000. She’s also become more involved with TASBO over the years, and recently stepped up to lead the association as president.

After she made the move to working in public education, Adams was amazed at the open communication and the we’re-all-in-thistogether attitude she found when she reached out to other districts for help or information.

“I had come from an industry where you competed for bonuses, and if you found a shortcut or some other way of doing business faster, that was a competitive secret,” she says. “In school business, it’s really all about our kids, and our kids are all 5 million.”

School district financial officers or business officers are frequently one of a kind in their districts, making networking with others crucial to the job. It was that need for connection that got Adams more involved with TASBO.

“TASBO has such an army of people who share and volunteer to teach and mentor and research and lead,” she says. “And the TASBO staff is incredible. They inspire me in such big ways because they are a small staff that organizes that army of volunteers and are able to offer things that are so incredibly valuable and make us a trusted resource.”

Texas Association of School Business Officials

Three issues are at the forefront of Adams’ mind as she takes the presidency at TASBO. First, she wants to continue TASBO’s legacy of being a trusted resource for school business officials and make sure that they are supported, no matter what silo or area of school work they do. Second, she would like to find a tool that could make school funding and finance more easily understood by the average citizen. Lastly, she hopes to recruit young professionals into school business, to replace retiring staff with a new generation.

“When you talk to people across the state who are in school business official capacities, most of us stumbled into it in a similar fashion,” she says. “Most people don’t graduate and go, ‘Oh, school finance is a thing.’ We want it to become a thing that people intentionally go into, not just stumble into.”

At the end of the day, Adams says that while her customers are Texas’ public

need in the classroom as easy as we can. I take a lot of pride in making sure things are running like a well-oiled machine, so they can spend their time changing lives.”

Adams has three adult children, all products of small Texas public schools. She says they were the ones who inspired her to get her master’s degree after turning 50. Two of her children have master’s, one has a law degree, and her former superintendent husband has a master’s, so Adam’s daughter figured it was only right for her mother to join them. When TASBO partnered with a university to create a master’s in business administration with a concentration in school funding, Adams joined the rest of her family in achieving an advanced degree.

“Through my husband’s eyes and looking at different students and the help that we’ve tried to give them over the years, now I see so clearly and it’s so personal for me to be able to support our campuses and take care of the school’s money and take care of business so we can have those Nan Browns

Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO)

Membership: TASBO supports Texas school district employees in all areas of business and operations, including accounting and finance, operations and student services, personnel, purchasing and inventory management, technology and student data, and safety and risk management.

Mission: TASBO maintains a high standard for ethical conduct while continuing to evaluate the direction of the organization and the profession. Using its core values and purpose as a guide, TASBO seeks a bright future for schools and its members.

Year founded: 1946

Number of members: 7,000

Website: tasbo.org

Texas Association of School Boards

Debbie Gillespie serves her district and her association

by Dacia Rivers

Since 2011, Debbie Gillespie has served as a trustee on the Frisco ISD school board. Recently she also became president of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and will be serving a one-year term leading the association.

Observing the great experiences her own children had as Frisco ISD students, Gillespie first stepped in to aid the district by serving on two bond committees in 2003 and 2006. During her work, she got to know many of the trustees in Frisco, and when one was retiring, he asked Gillespie if she might be interested in running for his spot on the board.

“It was not really anything I was thinking about at the time,” Gillespie says. “But I thought, ‘Well, let’s have a conversation,’ and he talked me into it. So, here I am.”

While Gillespie finds many aspects of her trustee work rewarding, she says her favorite experience is watching new things get built, something that’s a constant in the fast-growth district. When working with the board and district staff to build a budget for a project and make detailed decisions, Gillespie says she looks forward to visiting campuses where she can see that work come to life.

“It’s fun to see how the decisions that you’re making really affect the lives of every student and every teacher. Everything we do, every

little decision we make, affects the classroom, all the way down to the bottom.”

In 2013-14, Gillespie joined the Leadership TASB program. TASB designed the yearlong program to help board members develop their skills and take them to new levels in leadership by connecting them with others who are doing the same job under different circumstances. Gillespie says the experience made her a stronger trustee and showed her the benefits of TASB membership.

“You get to know TASB a lot more that way, but it also develops you as a trustee. You get to hear stories about how other districts do things, so you can share best practices, but also understand that your world and your bubble is not what’s happening in the rest of Texas.”

In Gillespie’s Leadership TASB cohort, she was paired with trustees from diverse districts, from a rural Panhandle-area district to the largest district in the state and one with an enrollment of around 160 students.

Beyond the Leadership TASB experience, Gillespie says the association offers many benefits to its members. One of the most important, in her eyes, is TASB’s policy service. TASB staff work with all Texas school districts to help create board policy and regulations that are up-to-date and adhere to all laws. This work saves districts a

countless amount of time, and is especially helpful to smaller districts who might not have governmental relations staff or internal auditors or lawyers on-site.

“Even with risk management and insurance, HR situations, superintendent searches — those are not things that every district can do on their own,” Gillespie says. “TASB has taken those services and turned it all into one big bundle.”

In her time as TASB president, Gillespie says she wants to focus on communication and helping trustees in smaller districts stay in touch with other TASB members. In Region 10, where she serves, Gillespie has created a Facebook page for other trustees in the area, so they can stay in contact with each other and keep up to date on conferences and training sessions. She also started a ladies’ lunch for women trustees in the region, and they get together every month or two to connect.

“We usually have about 15 to 20 trustee ladies that join us,” Gillespie says of the meetings. “We talk about our districts, we talk about our struggles, we talk about great things.”

GIllepsie says coming on board as a trustee can be a challenge, and that even those who think they know what they’re getting themselves into wind up surprised.

“Just because you’ve been on a campus or volunteered or even been on a board committee, you still don’t have a grasp on what’s happening as a trustee. You have to figure out that gray area between being a trustee, a parent and then how to interact with staff, too.”

That’s where TASB steps in. Through training, education and mentorship, the association exists to help trustees feel comfortable and supported in their roles. And with more than a decade of service under her belt, Gillespie has found joy in her work.

“I love being a trustee — from interacting with staff, seeing their passion, interacting with teachers, seeing how they interact with students, and getting to participate in any student activity.”

DACIA RIVERS is editorial director of Texas School Business.

Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

Membership: TASB members include board members of Texas school districts and regional education service centers, along with associate and affiliate members.

Mission: TASB promotes educational excellence for Texas schoolchildren through advocacy, visionary leadership and high-quality services to school districts.

Year founded: 1949

Number of members: more than 7,000

Website: tasb.org

Passionate about creating great experiences Top 10

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Beyond the Jacket was not something that was accumulated overnight. It took getting to know each other and getting to know technology before we considered doing a podcast.

As a sophomore and a junior, we didn’t have that much in common, except for Mrs. Champagne’s class. That was the first class that we had together, and we instantly clicked. We would talk about anything and everything that was going on in and around Silsbee. Then Cheyenne somehow convinced me to get more involved with Silsbee FFA.

I wanted to take what I learned in class and from Cheyenne and get the community more involved, and Cheyenne saw a growing concern for recognition and understanding of agriculture within our community. Also, I needed an SAE, which is basically a big project that FFA members can do to maintain service hours.

With this idea in mind, Mrs. Champagne brought up doing a podcast, since the two of us, “Just looooveee to talk!” Neither one of us had any idea how to accomplish it or where to even start. What else could be done but search the World Wide Web for answers to our problem? We began searching and compiling several different thoughts on how this could possibly work.

This immense research did not begin until February 2022. We took

The beginning of Beyond the Jacket

by Fatijona Bela and Cheyenne Cooley

a brief break to accumulate our thoughts and understand how this was going to work. What we found was that this was not going to be cheap by any means. With this in mind, we applied for a National FFA SAE Grant. Unfortunately, we did not receive the grant, but we were determined that would not stop us.

We began seeking community help and ideas, and the amount of support we received was unbelievable. We had support from a local nonprofit organization, Satsuma Valley. All this help and support burned even more passion within us, so we set off to blaze trails.

One day during Christmas break, we met at our local library and worked out all the kinks and errors that might occur. During that crazy three-hour window, we learned how to record, set up sound and feedback, market on social media, and so much more. The next day we met up at a local Starbucks, recorded our trailer and uploaded it in the same day.

We had accomplished so much and were ready to post our first episode. Cheyenne and I have always had a love for FFA. Although our love developed at different times, it developed for the same purpose.

Cheyenne is currently a senior, so her journey in FFA started a year before mine. Cheyenne has served the FFA in many different ways.

◄ Fatijona Bela and Cheyenne Cooley pose while recording an episode of their FFA podcast.

She has been Ricebelt District President and is now the Area IX Secretary. She has also served in many different chapter positions. Through these opportunities, she has networked and spoken to many different people and came to the conclusion that there is a common lack of communication in the agriculture industry.

I, on the other hand, am new to the agriculture industry and enjoy learning more about it. You see, I am not from America. My homeland is the beautiful country of Albania. One thing I have noticed though is that the cultural importance of farming in Albania is very important. Likewise in America, agriculture becomes a forgotten resource.

In Albania if you don’t have farmers, the economy plummets and no one survives. I have been going back and forth between Albania and the U.S., and I have gained a love and interest for agriculture and all its aspects. So again, although our journey didn’t start together, we are now intertwined and continue to grow together.

We uploaded our first episode on Jan. 11, 2023. It was a success, and the amount of positive feedback we received made us feel

as if our mission was just beginning. We’ve had local podcasts reach out, “Beyond the Jacket,” has been covered in newspapers and business magazines, and we were featured on live TV.

So many people are intrigued by our podcast, and we are excited to tell them everything they want to know. Our only downfall is that we are still high school students with very busy lives. With that in mind, we decided to make this podcast a legacy project for the Silsbee FFA, meaning that when Cheyenne and I graduate, we will pass the podcast on to another senior, junior, and sophomore. That way, there will be two main hosts and a third cohost who can service the podcast throughout their high school years.

With the possibility of me not being in FFA next year, we want to ensure the podcast is in really good hands. So, we adopted sophomores Lorelai Marble as cohost, and social media manager and editor Madison Konstantine. With these new additions to the team, our workload is pretty neutral, and we are still able to have a good podcast and live our lives.

This podcast couldn’t be possible without the countless hours and dedication we have put in. It has been a long time coming, and has been worth every good, bad and ugly moment.

As sad as it is to see Cheyene graduate in a few short months, we know she is always a hop, skip and a jump away and will always be willing to extend her helping hand when we need her. I am so excited to see where this podcast goes in the future and am grateful to be part of its origin.

We want to say a big thank you to a couple of people who have helped us on this journey, including our teacher Mrs. Champagne for dealing with our crazy ideas, our principal Mr. Schwartz for always supporting and approving everything we do, and the community of Silsbee for backing us and standing with us 100%.

To sum up everything we have said, “Beyond the Jacket” originates from a passion within two teenagers to see a better tomorrow.

SAVE THE DATE

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

FATIJONA BELA and CHEYENNE COOLEY attend Silsbee High School in Silsbee ISD.

MARCH

March 1

TASBO Workshop: Preparing for ESSER Compliance Review

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASSP Professional Development Series: The EQuipped Leader (session 6 of 8) Online

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: No charge for TASSP members; nonmembers, $55/per person/per session or $199 for all 8 sessions; campus, $599 for all 8 sessions, provides 6 licenses or individual subscriptions; district, $1,499 for all 8 sessions, provides 15 licenses or individual subscriptions.

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 3

Location TBA, El Campo area

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 13

Vista Ridge High School, Leander

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

March 1-2

TASA Future-Ready Superintendents Leadership Network (session 3 of 3) Blue Ridge ISD, Blue Ridge

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/22-23-frsln-3

TASB Workshop: Understanding Compensation in Schools Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

Cost: $225.

March 1-4

TASB Governance Camp, Powered by Student Voices Convention Center, Galveston

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

Calendar

Professional development & events

Texas ASCD Curriculum

Leadership Academy 40 (session 1 of 3)

Northside ISD, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

March 2

TASBO Project Management Workshop

ESC Region 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASBO zWebinar: Student Attendance – Develop Your District Audit Box Checklist Virtual event

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $85; nonmembers, $135.

March 5-7

TASSP Symposium: Making Middle School Matter Hilton Airport, Austin

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: Early Bird registration (through Feb. 11): $280; after Feb. 11, $330.

March 7

TASB Training: Asbestos Designated Person

ESC Region 5, Beaumont For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Investment Training Workshop

TASBO offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 6

Top Golf, Spring

For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

www.tepsa.org

March 7-9

TASA/CMSi Level 2 CMAT Online

For more info, (512) 852-2145. http://bit.ly/cmsi-cmat Register by Feb. 17: Members, $800; nonmembers, $900.

March 8

TASB Training: Integrated Pest Management ESC Region 5, Beaumont For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

March 9

TASA Breakaway Leadership Program (session 3 of 6) Virtual event

For more info, (512) 852-2114. https://bit.ly/breakawayleadership

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 3

ESC Region 3, Victoria

For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

www.tepsa.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Gulf Coast area Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-9107.

www.tspra.org

March 9-11

Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members Education Summit

Kalahari Resort, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

March 10

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Central Texas area

Hays CISD, Kyle

For more info, (512) 474-9107.

www.tspra.org

March 20

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 17, Lubbock

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Workshop: Preparing for ESSER Compliance Review

ESC 19, El Paso For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

March 21

TASB Training: Asbestos Designated Person

ESC Region 11, White Settlement

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or

(800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Fiscal, State and Federal Grants Manual Workshop

ESC Region 19, El Paso

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASBO Webinar: A Hungry Child Cannot Learn Virtual event For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $85; nonmembers, $135.

TASBO Workshop: Commodity Codes in Purchasing

ESC Region 11, White Settlement For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASA Virtual Book Study: Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (session 2 of 5) Online

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/spring-23-book-study

Cost: Free for TASA members.

March 22

TASB Training: Integrated Pest Management

ESC Region 11, White Settlement For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 14

Location TBA, Abilene area For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

March 23

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 17 People’s Bank, Lubbock For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Houston/ Beaumont area

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Cypress For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

March 24

TSPRA Regional Meeting, North Texas area

Crowley ISD, Crowley

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

March 26-28

TAGT Leadership Conference

Marriott Champions Circle, Dallas

For more info, (512) 499-8248. www.txgifted.org

March 27

TASBO Workshop: Commodity Codes in Purchasing Spring Valley Conference Center, Richardson

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

March 28

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 9, Wichita Falls

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASBO Workshop: Long-Range Planning

ESC Region 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

March 28-29

TASA/N2 Learning Executive Leadership Institute

Hilton Park Cities, Dallas

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASA/N2 Learning Principals’ Institute (session 5 of 6) Hilton Park Cities, Dallas

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASBO Workshop: Hot Topics in School Finance

ESC Region 12, Waco

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $335; nonmembers, $385.

March 28-30

TASA/CMSi Curriculum Writing Workshop

TASA offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 852-2145. https://bit.ly/curr-writingwkshop

Register by March 10: Members, $600; nonmembers, $650.

March 29

TASB Spring Workshop

Texas A&M University, Kingsville

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or

(800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASBO Workshop: Commodity Codes in Purchasing

Orozco Professional Development Complex, Pasadena

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASBO Workshop: Intermediate Governmental Accounting

ESC Region 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 15 Location TBA, San Angelo area For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 18

Location TBA, Midland/Odessa area

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

TCASE Ignite Academy for New and Aspiring Directors (session 6 of 9)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-4492 or (888) 433-4492. www.tcase.org

Cost: Administrator and associate members, $1,070 for full academy; nonmembers, $1,270.

March 29-30

TASBO Workshop: Leadership Fundamentals

Frenship ISD, Wolfforth

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $550; nonmembers, $600.

TASA Texas Public Accountability Consortium (TPAC) (meeting 2 of 2)

Holdsworth Center, Austin

For more info, (512) 852-2122. http://bit.ly/tpac-2022

March 30

2022-23 Hanover Superintendents Leadership Council Meeting “Marketing and Advocating for Your District”

Online https://bit.ly/SLC-registration

Cost: Free for TASA members.

APRIL

April 3

TASBO Workshop: Getting Things Done

Katy ISD, Katy

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $375; nonmembers, $425.

April 3-4

TASBO Academy: Bonds, Buildings and Beyond Marriott North, Round Rock For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $335; nonmembers, $385.

TASBO Construction Academy

Marriott North, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $335; nonmembers, $385.

April 4

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Austin/San Antonio cohort (session 5 of 6)

North East ISD, San Antonio For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASA Virtual Book Study: Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (session 3 of 5)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/bookstudy-apr4

TASBO Webinar: CTE Student Businesses – Tracking Revenues and Costs

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $85; nonmembers, $135.

April 4-5

TASBO Workshop: Leadership Fundamentals

CORE offices, Frisco

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $550; nonmembers, $600.

April 5

TASBO Workshop: Project Management

ESC Region 11, White Settlement For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASSP Professional Development Series: The EQ-uipped Leader (session 7 of 8)

Online

For more info, (512) 443-2100.

Cost: No charge for TASSP members; nonmembers, $55 per person/per session or $199 for all 8 sessions; campus, $599 for all 8 sessions, provides 6 licenses or individual subscriptions; district, $1,499 for all 8 sessions, provides 15 licenses or individual subscriptions.

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 9

ESC Region 9, Wichita Falls

For more info, (512) 443-2100.

www.tassp.org

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 17

Frenship High School, Wolfforth For more info, (512) 443-2100.

www.tassp.org

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 9

Location TBA, Wichita Falls

For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

www.tepsa.org

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 19

Location TBA, El Paso For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

www.tepsa.org

April 6

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant Principal Leadership Academy, virtual cohort (session 5 of 6) Virtual event

For more info, (972) 515-2268.

https://www.n2learning.org

TASB Spring Workshop

Location TBA, San Angelo For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Workshop: Fundamentals of Charter School Business Management ESC Region 11, White Settlement For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

Texas ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy 39 (session 3 of 4)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723.

www.txascd.org

April 10

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 19

Location TBA, El Paso area

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

April 11

TASB Training: Asbestos Designated Person

ESC Region 16, Amarillo

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASBO CSRM Course: Administering School Risks in Insurance

TASBO offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members and nonmembers, $250.

April 11-12

TASBO Workshop: Leadership Fundamentals

ESC Region 2, Corpus Christi

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $500; nonmembers, $600.

April 12

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Houston area cohort (session 5 of 6)

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Cypress

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASB Course: Integrated Pest Management

ESC Region 16, Amarillo

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 4, Houston

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 16

ESC Region 16, Amarillo

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Gulf Coast area

Aransas County ISD, Rockport

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

Texas ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy 39 (session 4 of 4)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723. www.txascd.org

April 13

ED311 and TCASE Spring Conference on Special Education Law

Jackson Center, Grand Prairie or online

For more info, (512) 478-2113. www.ed311.com

Cost: Single registrant (includes digital workbook), $220; single registrant (includes printed workbook), $245. Groups of 5 or more (includes digital workbook), $195 per person; groups of 5 or more (includes printed workbook), $220 per person. Groups of 10 or more (includes digital workbook), $185 per person; groups of 10 or more (includes printed workbook), $210 person.

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Corpus Christi/Victoria cohort (session 5 of 6)

Corpus Christi ISD, Corpus Christi

For more info, (972) 515-2268.

https://www.n2learning.org

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Dallas area cohort (session 5 of 6) Allen ISD, Allen

For more info, (972) 515-2268.

https://www.n2learning.org

TASB Webinar: Documentation

Review – What Have We Learned and What Can We Do?

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, West Central area Location TBA

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

April 13-14

Texas ASCD Transformational Principal Leadership Academy (session 3 of 3)

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723.

www.txascd.org

April 14

TEPSA Regional Meeting, Region 10 Location and city TBA

For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621.

www.tepsa.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Central area

Pflugerville ISD, Pflugerville

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

April 17

TASBO Workshop: Are Your District’s Service Records in Compliance?

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TASBO Workshop: Developing a Fiscal Manual

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

April 18

TASA Texas Executive Leadership Group Meeting (session 6 of 6)

Virtual event

https://bit.ly/tx-exec-lead-groups

TASA/TASB/TASBO Budget Cohort for Texas District Leaders (session 7 of 8)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 462-1711. http://bit.ly/budget-cohort-22-23

TASA Virtual Book Study: Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (session 4 of 5)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/bookstudy-apr18

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 10 Allen High School, Allen For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

April 19

TASB SHARS Matters Webinar Series: Third Party Liability

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASBO Course: Accounts Payable Processes ESC Region 10, Richardson For more into, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: Effective Advocacy – Navigating the Political Process ESC Region 1, Edinburg For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 12

Midway High School, Hewitt

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

April 19-20

TASB Workshop: Managing Personnel Records

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

April 19-21

TASB School Law Boot Camp

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

April 20

TASA Breakaway Leadership Program (session 4 of 7) Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/breakaway-leadership

TASBO Course: Intermediate Governmental Accounting, Part 2 ESC 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Houston/Beaumont area

Spring ISD, Spring

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

April 24

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 7 Whitehouse High School, Whitehouse

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

April 25

TASB Spring Workshop

Uvalde ISD, Uvalde

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASB Training: Asbestos Designated Person

ESC Region 12, Waco

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Course: Leaves and Absences

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: PEIMS Accuracy – Special Populations and Programs

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Member: $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Workshop: Commodity Codes in Purchasing Teachup Spring Learning Center, Houston

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

April 26

TASB Course: Integrated Pest Management

ESC Region 12, Waco

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TASBO Course: PEIMS Accuracy – Special Populations and Programs

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO 2023 Texas School Records Management Academy Embassy Suites and Convention Center, Denton

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $335; nonmembers, $385.

TCASE Ignite Academy for New and Aspiring Directors (session 7 of 9)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-4492 or (888) 433-4492.

www.tcase.org

Cost: Administrator and associate members, $1,070 for full academy; nonmembers, $1,270.

April 27

TASBO Course: Intermediate Governmental Accounting, Part 2 ESC Region 18, Midland

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Workshop: Fiscal, State and Federal Grants Manual White Education Center, Houston

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

MAY

May 2

TASA Virtual Book Study: Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (session 5 of 5)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/bookstudy-may2

May 2-3

TASBO Course: Leadership Fundamentals

ESC Region 12, Waco

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $550; nonmembers, $600.

May 3

TASSP Professional Development Series: The EQ-uipped Leader (session 8 of 8) Online

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: No charge for TASSP members; nonmembers, $55 per person/per session or $199 for all 8 sessions; campus, $599 for all 8 sessions, provides 6 licenses or individual subscriptions; district, $1,499 for all 8 sessions, provides 15 licenses or individual subscriptions.

TASSP Regional Meeting, Region 11

Joe T. Garcia’s, Fort Worth

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

May 4-5

TASB Conference: SHARS 2023

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

May 5

TASBO Course: Advanced Financial Concepts

ESC Region 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

May 9

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 19, El Paso

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASB Spring Workshop

Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Course: Food Agriculture Literacy – Farm to School Beyond the Plate

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $85; nonmembers, $135.

TASBO Course: HR Management for Maintenance and Operations

ESC Region 1, Edinburg

For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Workshop: Getting Things Done

TASBO offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $375; nonmembers, $425.

May 10

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 14, Abilene

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Course: Financial Coding for Texas Schools

ESC Region 10, Richardson

For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

May 11

TASA Breakaway Leadership Program (session 5 of 7) Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/breakaway-leadership

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 6, Huntsville

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

May 15

TASB Spring Workshop

Iraan-Sheffield ISD, Iraan

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

May 16

ED311 and TCASE Spring Conference on Special Education Law

Civic and Convention Center, New Braunfels or online

For more info, (512) 478-2113. www.ed311.com

Cost: Single registrant (includes digital workbook), $220; single registrant (includes printed workbook), $245. Groups of 5 or more (includes digital workbook),

$195 per person; groups of 5 or more (includes printed workbook), $220 per person.

Groups of 10 or more (includes digital workbook), $185 per person; groups of 10 or more (includes printed workbook), $210 per person.

TASB Spring Workshop

Location TBA, Alpine

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASB Spring Workshop

Texas A&M University, Commerce

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

May 17

TASB SHARS Matters Webinar: Documentation Requirements and Best Practices

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASB Spring Workshop

West Texas A&M University, Canyon

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

TASBO Workshop: Fiscal, State and Federal Grants Manual

TASBO offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711.

www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

TCASE Ignite Academy for New and Aspiring Directors (session 8 of 9)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-4492 or (888) 433-4492.

www.tcase.org

Cost: Administrator and associate members, $1,070 for full academy; nonmembers, $1,270.

May 17-18

Texas ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy 40 (session 2 of 3)

Northside ISD, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 477-8200 or (800) 717-2723.

www.txascd.org

> See Calendar, page 26

May 18

TASBO Workshop: Commodity Codes in Purchasing

Frenship ISD, Wolfforth

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

May 19

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Gulf Coast area

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

May 19-20

TASB Spring Workshop Convention Center, South Padre Island

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

May 23

TASB Spring Workshop

ESC Region 12, Waco

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

May 24

2022-23 Hanover Superintendents Leadership Council Meeting “Focusing Your System on Curriculum & Instruction”

Online

https://bit.ly/SLC-registration

Cost: Free for TASA members.

May 31-June 2

TETA Higher Education Research Conference

Austin Community College, Highland Campus, Austin www.txeta.com

Cost: Early Bird registration (until May 1): $125. Late registration (May 2 and after): $150.

JUNE

June 5

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Houston area cohort (session 6 of 6)

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Cypress

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, virtual cohort (session 6 of 6) Virtual event

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

June 6

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Dallas area cohort (session 6 of 6) Allen ISD, Allen For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Houston/Beaumont area LaPorte ISD, LaPorte For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

June 7

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Austin/San Antonio cohort (session 6 of 6) North East ISD, San Antonio For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TCASE Ignite Academy for New and Aspiring Directors (session 9 of 9)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 474-4492 or (888) 433-4492. www.tcase.org

Cost: Administrator and associate members, $1,070 for full academy; nonmembers, $1,270.

June 7-8

TASB Workshop: Managing State and Federal Leave

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

June 7-9

TEPSA Summer Conference

Kalahari Resort and Conference Center, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 478-5268 or (800) 252-3621. www.tepsa.org

June 8

TASA/N2 Learning Assistant

Principal Leadership Academy, Corpus Christi/Victoria cohort (session 6 of 6)

Corpus Christi ISD, Corpus Christi For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

TASA Breakaway Leadership Program (session 6 of 7)

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/breakawayleadership

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Central area Eanes ISD, Westlake (Austin) For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Gulf Coast area

Laredo ISD, Laredo For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

June 12

TASBO CSRM Course: Measuring School Risks

Moody Gardens, Galveston For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members and nonmembers, $250.

June 12-14

TASBO Summer Solutions Conference

Location TBA, Galveston For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

June 13

ED311 and TASSP Conference on Education Law for Principals Convention Center, Austin or online For more info, (512) 478-2113. www.ed311.com

Cost: Single registrant (with digital workbook), $225; single registrant (with printed workbook), $250. Groups of 5 or more (with digital workbook), $200 per person; groups of 5 or more (with printed workbook), $225 per person. Groups of 10 or more (with digital workbook), $190 per person; groups of 10 or more (with printed workbook), $215 per person.

June 13-14

TASA/N2 Learning Principals’ Institute (session 6 of 6) Hilton Houston Post Oak, Houston

For more info, (972) 515-2268. https://www.n2learning.org

June 14

TASA Breakaway Leadership Program (session 7 of 7)

Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://bit.ly/breakaway-leadership

TASA/TASB/TASBO Budget

Cohort for District Leaders (session 8 of 8)

Moody Gardens, Galveston

For more info, (512) 462-1711. http://bit.ly/budget-cohort-22-23

TSPRA Regional Meeting, Gulf Coast area

Corpus Christi ISD, Corpus Christi For more info, (512) 474-9107. www.tspra.org

June 14-16

TASA txedFest Summer Conference

Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 477-6361. https://txedfest.org/

TASSP Summer Workshop

Convention Center, Austin

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tassp.org

Cost: Early Bird registration (until May 22): Members, $295; nonmembers, $495. After May 22: Members, $345; nonmembers, $545.

TETA SummerFest

Tyler Junior College, Tyler www.txeta.com

June 14-17

TASB Summer Leadership Institute

Marriott RiverCenter, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

June 21-22

TASB Workshop: Get a Grip on the Family and Medical Leave Act

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

TETL Summer Clinic

Embassy Suites and Conference Center, San Marcos

For more info, (855) 458-9286. www.tetl.org

June 21-24

TASB Summer Leadership Institute

Omni, Fort Worth

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

June 26

TASBO Course: Activity Fund Accounting

ESC Region 20, San Antonio For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: Administrator Overview of PEIMS

ESC Region 20, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: Financial Coding for Texas Schools

ESC Region 20, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: Introduction to TRS Collaboration of HR and Payroll

ESC Region 20, San Antonio

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

TASBO Course: State Aid

Calculations

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

June 27

TASBO Course: State Aid

Calculations, Part 2

ESC Region 7, Kilgore

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $195; nonmembers, $245.

JULY

July 6-9

TASSP New Principal Academy

Sheraton, Georgetown

For more info, (512) 443-2100. www.tcase.org

July 10-12

TCASE Interactive 2023

Marriott, Austin

For more info, (512) 474-4492 or (888) 433-4492.

www.tcase.org

July 10-13

TGCA Summer Clinic

Esports Stadium and Expo Center, Arlington

For more info, (512) 708-1333. www.austintgca.com

July 11

TASB Training: Asbestos Designated Person

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

July 12

TASB Course: Integrated Pest Management

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272. www.tasb.org

July 12-13

TASB Workshop: Administering Pay Plans

Virtual event

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

July 13

TASB Workshop: Best Practices –Maintenance and Operations

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

July 14

TASB 2023 Council of School Attorneys Post-Legislative Seminar

TASB offices, Austin

For more info, (512) 467-0222 or (800) 580-8272.

www.tasb.org

July 16-18

TAHPERD Summer Conference

Embassy Suites and Conference Center, San Marcos

For more info, (512) 459-1299. www.tahperd.org

July 17

TASBO State Aid Workshop

Sonesta Bee Cave, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

July 18

TASBO Course: Business Manager Fundamentals

Sonesta Bee Cave, Austin

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285.

July 19-21

TASPA Summer Conference

Kalahari Resort and Conference Center, Round Rock

For more info, (512) 494-9353. www.taspa.org

July 25

TASBO State Aid Workshop

Frisco ISD, Frisco

For more info, (512) 462-1711. www.tasbo.org

Cost: Members, $235; nonmembers, $285. ◀

Oh, the problems when communication goes wrong

by Riney Jordan

It’s amazing the amount of damage that can be done when a message is miscommunicated or the receiving party misunderstands!

Robert Frost, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, said, “Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.”

My mother always summed it up pretty well when she would tell someone, “Hey, just say what you mean and mean what you say!”

I’m reminded of a story I read a while back that told of a young married couple having their infant baby girl christened. There they are, at the front of the church, and the minister suddenly realizes that he doesn’t remember the baby’s name.

I can just hear the minister as he held the baby girl in his arms and looked up at the proud father and asked, in his deep resonant voice, “And what name has been given to this child?”

“Spindonor,” the father quickly replied. Although the minister secretly thought it was an unusual name, he proceeded without a moment’s hesitation.

“Spindonor, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Immediately, the father’s face turned red with anger. The mother burst into tears as she took the child from the minister and stormed out of the sanctuary.

After the service, the minister was surprised to see the young family sitting in his office.

The father stood and glared at the minister. “How in the world could you give our precious baby girl such a horrible, ridiculous name?”

The pastor looked at the father in disbelief.

“I didn’t make it up! You did! I asked you what her name was and you told me plainly

that it was Spindonor.”

“No!” the father yelled. “I told you it was pinned on her!”

At that point, he pointed to a small note with the name Elizabeth, which was neatly pinned to the baby’s baptismal dress.

His story encourages me to ask questions if there is the slightest doubt about the message we think we heard.

Oh, how many problems and catastrophes could be avoided if we would just make certain that we have understood the communication correctly.

Be careful with the spoken word. Proofread the written word for clarity and correctness. But, one small thing to remember: Know your audience.

This really happened to me at a Dairy Queen in Central Texas.

As I pulled up to the drive-thru window, a very young lady was there to greet me. I rarely ask, or even think about senior citizen discounts, but this day I did.

“Ummm … do you give seniors a discount at this Dairy Queen?”

Immediately her face scrunched up, she looked upwards a time or two, as if in deep thought.

Finally, she spoke.

“I haven’t worked here that long, but I remember when I first started here, they gave a discount to the seniors when they graduated … so I guess we do!”

“That’s OK,” I said in utter disbelief. “My senior is not with us right now.”

Here’s one more bit of advice that I recently saw on a T-shirt: “I don’t do any communicating until I’ve had my coffee.”

I’m with you on that one … but only if I can get my senior discount.

RINEY JORDAN is the author of two books and a frequent public speaker. To invite him to speak at your convocation, graduation or awards banquet, visit www.rineyjordan.com.

Join Us!

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Join today for the 2022-23 membership year!