12 | HR Connection
Get To Know Your TASPA Board JOHJANIA NÁJERA TASPA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Johjania Nájera is currently in her 28th year of public education service in both large and small school districts in Texas. Currently, she in her 11th year as Executive Director of Human Resources in Keller ISD. Prior to her work in Human Resources, Johjania held leadership roles as an Assistant Principal at the elementary and high school levels and Principal at the primary and intermediate levels. She also has four years of classroom teaching experience as a bilingual elementary teacher. Johjania holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Justice from St. Mary’s University and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. In her present role, she assists her district in meeting the employment needs of over 5,000 employees including lending support and coaching principals through employee issues. Johjania serves the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators as the Immediate Past President and is a Past President of the North Central Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (NCTASPA), where she lead the organization by providing opportunities for professional growth through monthly meetings focusing on pressing current educational issues. NCTASPA covers TASPA District IV (Education Service Centers for Regions 7, 8, 10 and 11). One of her most proud accomplishments while leading NCTASPA was the initiation of donating to the TASPA Scholarship Fund. NCTASPA continues to support the TASPA Scholarship Fund. She is also an active member and supporter of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA). Johjania receives her strongest support from her husband of 29 years, Paul Nájera who has served students in several publicschool districts in Texas as a Band Director for over 28 years. Her oldest son, Adiel, is currently an M.M. candidate and graduate teaching assistant for the UCONN Marching Band at the University of Connecticut and Johniel is starting his first year at Baylor University majoring in Music Education. In talking about challenges Human Resources professionals in public schools are facing today, Johjania talked about navigating through the unprecedented state of the pandemic: “The pandemic has been impacting the world for over half a year now in ways we could never imagined. We are having to truly rethink how we approach our daily work and many times, having to rebuild or restructure even the soundest and most effective processes we had in place. Most importantly keeping in mind as we rebuild and restructure that our people, including their fears, are not just processes – they are our Human Capital and without them we cannot continue to serve our future. The best advise I can share with new Human Resources (HR) administrators is to first know your ‘why’. I hope that choosing HR is part of that ‘why’ because this profession is a commitment to truly serve others. Serving another human being, focusing on their needs so they may serve those in front of them is a privilege that comes with great responsibility and yes, a lot of work! Be open to new learning and share your knowledge, give grace to others often, always be kind and patient. Last but so important, connect often. Connect with others HR professionals around you and across the state! Connect and be active with TASPA – they are our strongest supporter and advocate. When you LOVE what you do, you will have fun and laugh often even during the toughest times.”
