Friday, April 19, 2024

Open Hearings — 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Budget Overview
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Linda Estrada, TSTA Vice President, Sherra Bowers, TSTA CFO and Members of the TSTA Budget Committee
Moved to Citation

Proposed Bylaws Amendment
9:30-10:00 a.m.
Members of the TSTA CB&E Committee
Moved to Erudia

Professional Development Workshops Session 1 — 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Public School Employees: Essential Rights Under Texas Law (CPE Credit)
Amanda Moore, TSTA General Counsel and Director of Legal Services
In this session, we will discuss Texas laws and school board policies that directly relate to public school employment. We will examine employment issues related to contracts, state and federal law, certification, grievances, job duties, and overall working conditions.  
Indian Trail

Organizing For Change: Maintaining the Momentum
Patricia Torres Sauceda, Director of Affiliate and Leadership Development
Our leaders, activists, and members have experienced an increased workload that has led to burnout that impacts levels of engagement and ability to commit to the union work.  With public education under continued and severe attack, it is important to get involved if we want to improve salaries, benefits, and working conditions.  This interactive session will focus on ways to engage members/potential members in collective action while continuing to increase membership through strategizing, planning, and execution of tactics.
Buffalo Trail

Activating for Public Education: Proven strategies for turning out education supporters in November and beyond
James Hallamek, Government Relations Specialist
Training covers voter turnout and persuasion strategies for electing pro-public education candidates. Attendees will review previous successful union and campaign Get-Out-The-Vote programs and develop plans for their home local.  
Shawnee Trail

Professional Development Workshops Session 2 — 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Public School Employees: Essential Rights Under Texas Law (CPE Credit)-Encore
Amanda Moore, TSTA General Counsel and Director of Legal Services
In this session, we will discuss Texas laws and school board policies that directly relate to public school employment. We will examine employment issues related to contracts, state and federal law, certification, grievances, job duties, and overall working conditions.  
Indian Trail

Navigating the Path to Excellence with National Board Certification (CPE Credit)
Carrie Griffith, Government Relations/Policy Specialist
This session will guide future educators with information on achieving National Board Certification, a prestigious credential recognizing accomplished teaching practice. Attendees will learn about the requirements, benefits, and support available for pursuing National Board certification. Through discussions and insights, future educators will better understand how certification can elevate their teaching practice and impact student learning outcomes.  
Buffalo Trail

SOGI Inclusive Diversity: An Introduction for Educators
Members of the TSTA SOGI Committee
SOGI means Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The term is inclusive because everyone has both a sexual orientation and a gender identity. SOGI education provides a mirror for some students to see themselves reflected and a window for all students to see the diversity of society. All students need to feel safe, included and empowered so they can learn. To ensure this, educators need to understand SOGI and move forward in a spirit of respect and inclusivity. This session will provide useful tools and language to increase your knowledge of SOGI diversity.
Shawnee Trail

Professional Development Workshops Session 3 — 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Activating for Public Education: Proven strategies for turning out education supporters in November and beyond – Encore
James Hallamek, Government Relations Specialist
Training covers voter turnout and persuasion strategies for electing pro-public education candidates. Attendees will review previous successful union and campaign Get-Out-The-Vote programs and develop plans for their home local.  
Indian Trail

Understanding Teacher Evaluation in Texas: T-TESS, the Teacher Incentive Allotment, and What Should Be (CPE Credit)
Carrie Griffith, Government Relations/Policy Specialist
Though touted as being a process that seeks to develop the habits of continuous improvement, T-TESS in practice is more typically flawed instrument evaluating educator quality in a way that can feel imprecise and unfair. The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), a merit pay program made optional to districts by the passage of HB 3 in 2019, has increased the stakes for T-TESS even more for many Texas educators.   This professional development session will introduce you to the basics of the teacher evaluation law in Texas, focusing on the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). It will also introduce you to the basics of the TIA, explain how T-TESS and TIA are tied together, and offer ways to advocate for district TIA plans that use holistic measures of student learning to designate teachers.   This professional development session will close with what a more just and equitable teacher evaluation environment might look like. Although it is important to understand how to be successful within our sometimes less-than-ideal reality that is Texas education policy, it is also critical that we as union brothers and sisters not stop fighting for the change that Texas teachers and students deserve.    
Buffalo Trail

SOGI Inclusive Diversity: An Introduction for Educators-Encore
Members of the TSTA SOGI Committee
SOGI means Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. The term is inclusive because everyone has both a sexual orientation and a gender identity. SOGI education provides a mirror for some students to see themselves reflected and a window for all students to see the diversity of society. All students need to feel safe, included and empowered so they can learn. To ensure this, educators need to understand SOGI and move forward in a spirit of respect and inclusivity. This session will provide useful tools and language to increase your knowledge of SOGI diversity.
Shawnee Trail

Parliamentary Procedures Workshop – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Carole Albright, Parliamentarian for TSTA’s House of Delegates
Specifically designed for new delegates, this workshop provides the basics on parliamentary procedure.
Indian Trail