NEWS A Texas Team Ag Ed Publication
See You
in
July 2018
Lubbock
Michael Meadows, Simms
Our association exists to provide member benefits. Probably the greatest of these, and our signature event, is our annual Professional Development Conference. Many of you were teaching when this conference was planned, sponsored, and conducted by the Texas Education Agency. In those days, there were several TEA employees assigned to agricultural education. Eventually, TEA staff reduction and budget cuts led to an uncertain future for our annual conference. I never will forget leaving conference after we had been told that TEA would no longer be having a professional development conference for ag teachers. We all went home not knowing if we would have to attend a conference with other CTE educators in the future. or if we would have the opportunity to attend a conference at all. The thought of not having an ag teachers conference as we had known it, was very scary. How would all our state committees meet and report to the areas? How would our area associations get organized for the coming school year? What would we do for professional development as ag teachers? When would we get to visit with and learn from our colleagues across the state? I am so thankful that our association stepped up to the plate and accepted the responsibility of our conference. Looking back, this was
probably the best thing that could have happened. I always enjoyed the TEA sponsored conferences and learned from them but I believe the quality of our conference now is better. For one thing, our conference is totally planned and conducted by our VATAT staff with input from ag teachers in each area. The workshops are more practical and related to what we do every day. Plus, we have total control of the conference. I have heard our executive director, Barney McClure, state that before he retired from teaching, he could not imagine starting a new school year without having attended ag teachers conference. I completely agree with him. Attending a professional development conference for ag teachers planned by ag teachers is the best scenario I can imagine. I sincerely hope each one of you is already registered and looking forward to a productive conference. We have a very diverse selection of quality workshops available on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. During our general sessions, we will recognize many for tenure awards and honor those who are retiring. One of the wisest men I have ever met will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday morning, and we have a special “note burning” ceremony planned to celebrate the payoff of our building. You won’t want to miss your area
meetings so you can begin your school year informed of important dates, events, and plans. Many of you also need continuing education credits to maintain your teaching certificate. Because TEA recognizes the quality of our conference, they allow our association to award these credits. There are many, many reasons to attend conference. If you have not registered, there is still time to do so and make plans to come. You will not regret it. Personally, I can’t wait to be back in Lubbock, Texas. Being from East Texas, I have always loved coming to the panhandle. Everywhere you look there is agriculture. Continue on page 2