26 | HR Connection
Winter Conference Recap
T
he 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
