2023 Summer Conference

TThis year’s Summer Law Conference, presented by Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C. was a full-day conference, and included four general sessions and two tracks of breakout sessions for rookies and veterans. Legislative Updates, Case Law and Commissioner Opinions and Title VII Updates were covered during General Sessions, and breakouts session topics included FMLA, ADA and Termination and Non-Renewal of Contracts. TASPA values its continued partnership with Eichelbaum, and we are proud of the professional development and continuing education they provide our members.

The TASPA Summer Conference included three general sessions and 39 breakout sessions which included over 70 speakers. Presenters included speakers from law firms Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.; Walsh Gallegos Treviño Kyle & Robinson, P.C. and J.Cruz & Associates, and also from TEA, TRS, TASB HR Services, DPS and many others who provided excellent sessions covering a range of topics. We also appreciate the school districts that shared their best practices by presenting breakouts sessions: Amarillo ISD, Dickinson ISD, Ector County ISD, Hays CISD, Hutto ISD, Lake Worth ISD and McKinney ISD.

The Summer Conference also provided opportunities for all 6 TASPA districts to hold meetings. These district meetings are critical in providing structure to our association and allow for district members to elect their TASPA district representatives and committee members. During these summer meetings, District I selected Melissa Aguero Ramirez of PSJA ISD, a long-time member of the SBEC Committee, to serve as the chair of that committee, and District III elected Eddie Curran, Chief Human Resources Officer, Round Rock ISD, to serve on the Conference Planning Committee. Thank you to these members for their willingness to serve!

And finally, the Closing General Session featured our first ever HR Panel discussion which included a variety of topics including Staffing Shortages, Grow Your Own, Recruitment and Retention, Compensation Strategies, School Safety and others. Panel members included HR administrators from across the state with many years of experience. Thank you to our inaugural panel members for a thought-provoking session that was beneficial to all: Scott Corrick, Director of Human Resources, Aldine ISD, Dr. Sundie Dahlkamp, Executive Director of Human Resource Services and Communications, Pearland ISD, Magda Hernandez, Superintendent, Irving ISD, Dr. Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation and Director of Leadership Development at the Charles Butt Foundation, Kala Moore, Chief Human Resources Officer, Jacksonville ISD, Melissa Aguero Ramirez, Professional Development Director, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Rick Rodriguez, Chief Operations Officer, Lubbock ISD, Bobbi Russell-Garcia, Chief Human Capital Management Officer, Ysleta ISD, and Willie Watson, Jr., Chief Human Resources Officer, Pflugerville ISD.

TASPA greatly appreciates the support of our sponsors: Diamond Sponsors – ESS/Proximity Learning, Frontline, Gulf Coast Educators FCU, iteachTEXAS, Kelly Education, Red Rover and Teachers of Tomorrow; Gold Sponsors - PowerSchool and Teachworthy; and Bronze Sponsors - 240 Tutoring, Skyward and Upbeat.

Thank you to the presenters, facilitators, sponsors, TASPA board members, TASPA staff and TASPA members that helped to make this conference a huge success!

We hope you will join us again at the Kalahari for the Fall Support Staff Conference October 2-3 and Winter Conference December 6-8!