ATPE State Officers

State President
Sue Melton has been a member of ATPE for 25 years and has served the association as state vice president in 2006-07, state secretary in 2005-06, state treasurer in 2004-05, Finance Committee Chairperson, ATPE Foundation Board President, state committee member, Region 12 director, president, vice president, and secretary. She also served as West ATPE president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

A 32-year veteran educator, Melton received a BS in education from Baylor University. She currently teaches special education in West ISD where she served on the West ISD Textbook, Long Range Planning and Advisory committees and the West Elementary Planning, Improvement and Personnel committees.

She is active in the Primrose Drive Baptist Church.
  

State Vice President
Jerry Bonham, an 18-year ATPE member, has served the association in various capacities over the years. She was state secretary in 2006-07, state treasurer in 2005-06, chairwoman of state Legislative and PAC Committees and Nomination/Election committee; a member of state Minority and Diverse Population Recruitment, Professional Rights and Responsibilities, and Bylaws committees. She has served as a Leader U presenter and panelist; Region 10 co-vice president; served on several Region 10 committees; Mesquite ATPE president; and chairwoman of Mesquite Local Unit Past Presidents’ Advisory Board. In addition, she is an ATPE William B. Travis and Stephen F. Austin honoree and winner of ATPE’s Sam Houston Award for Political Involvement.

Bonham has been an educator for 26 years and currently teaches 7th and 8th grade ELA in Mesquite ISD (MISD) where she is a recognized Apple Corp teacher. In addition to her leadership with ATPE, she is serving as a Congressional district coordinator for We the People and Project Citizen; is currently a member of Sen. Bob Duell’s Citizen Advisory Board; and she was a teaching supervisor for the Texas A&M Mentor Program; a past member of Mesquite Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Committee; served for seven years on MISD’s Insurance/Benefits’ Committee and on various other MISD committees; and worked with MISD in the recruitment of new teachers.

Jerry and her husband Keith reside in Rowlett and have 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
  

Spurlock has been an educator for 29 years and currently teaches seventh- and eighth-grade science in Olney ISD (OISD). In addition to his leadership with ATPE, his leadership experience includes member of state-level Science TAAS Review Committee; member of Region 9 Teacher of the Year Selection and Science TAAS Training-the-Trainer committees; member of OISD committees, including science curriculum alignment, crisis management and intervention, attendance review, campus and district improvement teams; and church deacon for education.
  

State Treasurer
David de la Garza has been a member of ATPE for 15 years. He has served as chairman of state ATPE-PAC, Legislative and Educator of the Year committees; member of state Bylaws Committee; Region 20 president, vice president and past president; chairman of Region 20 Elections/ Nominations Committee; member of Region 20 Fiesta Parade Committee; Northside (20) ATPE president, treasurer and campus representative; chairman of Northside (20) Elections/Nominations Committee; member of Northside (20) Bylaws Committee; state convention teller.

de la Garza has a master's degree in curriculum/instruction and technology. He has been teaching for 28 years and is currently a K-5 GT/enrichment specialist in Northside (20) ISD. In addition to his leadership with ATPE, his leadership experience includes PTA parliamentarian, vice president, historian and treasurer; Phi Delta Kappa vice president; member of NISD school bond, SAT, strategic planning in public relations, social studies textbook and report card committees; James L. Carson Elementary and Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year recipient; PTA Life Member; Who’s Who Among American Educators; Eucharistic minister; analyzed TAAS and TAKS tests for TEA.
  

A graduate of Wayland Baptist University, with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical science, Chapman is currently employed by Whiteface CISD as the Math Curriculum Director and high school math teacher. She is a member of the Wilson First Baptist Church. Chapman has received several awards for her efforts in education and community involvement. She has two daughters, Chris, 18, and Shay, 13.

Chapman is deeply devoted to ATPE and plans to use her talents to further the organization.