Winter Conference Recap

The TASPA 2022 Winter Conference was held on December 8-10 at the Kalahari Hotel & Convention Center in Round Rock, TX. We had a successful turnout with 290 attendees. The spacious event center allowed for a record 33 exhibitors! We are especially grateful to our Diamond Sponsors: ESS, Frontline, iteachTEXAS, Kelly Education, and Texas Teachers. With their support we are able to provide YOU, our TASPA members, with continued services and professional development. During the three day conference, TASPA was able to host three general sessions and 40 breakout sessions. We had 64 speakers that included law firms: Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz, P.C.; J. Cruz & Associates, LLC; and Walsh Gallegos Treviño Kyle & Robinson, P.C. We also had presentations from HR practitioners, TEA, TASB HR Services, TRS, TxCEE, TSPRA, TX DPS and many others. Thank you to speakers, TASPA board members, TASPA staff and TASPA members to help make this conference a huge success! During the second General Session, we acknowledged our 2021 TASPA award winners and scholarship recipients.

DR. MARY HOPKINS PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Bobbi Russell-Garcia. Bobbi Russell-Garcia is currently the chief human capital officer in the Ysleta School District in El Paso, Texas and has held that role for 7 years. She is in her 19th year of service in public education. Prior to being the chief human capital officer, Ms. Russell-Garcia served in various roles including Director of Employee Relations, Coordinator of Employee Relations and as a school counselor and special education teacher. Ms. Russell-Garcia has been a TASPA member since 2010. Bobbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Psychology from Park College in El Paso and a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Webster University. She is described by her co-workers as a strategic planner, negotiator, problem solver, and conflict manager. They go on to say that her wealth of knowledge and professional demeanor have allowed her to be a beacon during the pandemic as everyone was learning to navigate the world of education and HR in a politically charged and polarized world. She ensures that her staff members are actively involved in TASPA and advocates for them to participate in regional meetings, conferences, and workshops.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Congratulations to Johjania Nájera. Johjania Nájera is currently in her 29th year of public education service in both large and small school districts in Texas. Currently, she is 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 Master 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 TASPA as the District IV Representative and has been a Past President. She has also served as Past President of the NCTASPA, where she led the organization by providing opportunities for professional growth through monthly meetings focusing on pressing current educational issues. One of her proudest 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 with roles in several committees of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA). Johjania states that she receives her strongest support from her husband of 30 years, Paul Nájera who has also served students in several public-school districts in Texas as a Band Director for over 28 years. Her oldest son, Adiel, is currently a DMA candidate at the University of Kentucky and Johniel is in his second year at Baylor University majoring in Music Education.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AWARD

It is our pleasure to recognize Joe Palmer as a TASPA Honorary Member. Joe recently retired from Temple ISD as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. However, he continues to assist the district as they still need him! During his tenure in Temple ISD, he developed many employee-assistance and wellness programs. He was also instrumental in the development of several employee relations models for recruiting and retaining employees and quality staff members. In addition to his work in HR, Joe has served as teacher, coach, and campus administrator. He has been active in TASPA serving as a District 3 (CTASPA) officer including president. He was instrumental in developing a scholarship program in CTASPA to encourage HR administrators to obtain their HCLE certification. He has also presented multiple sessions at TASPA conferences.

ANN BERG SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Elaine Goulden is a senior education major at Southwestern University. She has been on the Dean’s list throughout her college career. Elaine is working towards becoming a secondary history teacher because she feels that history is a key field in which we can learn about how diverse persons and communities intersect.

BARRY NETTLES SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Antonia Renfroe is an elementary special education major at Southwestern University. She has been on the Dean’s List the past two years and is involved in several organizations on campus. She states that she has chosen to become a teacher to cultivate the same setting that was given to her as a student and helped her thrive.

PETE CHERNICK SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Garrett Smith is an 7-12 History major at Mary Hardin-Baylor University. He has been involved in student government and served as a university ambassador for 2 years. He is currently serving as class president for the UMHB class of 2022. He states that he hopes to instill not only knowledge but hope in the hearts of his future students.

We hope you will join us for again this year for our TASPA Conferences!