Pressroom

Press Release 05/23/13 - ATPE announces new executive director
AUSTIN – The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) announced today the selection of Gary G. Godsey as its new executive director. With 33 years of nonprofit management experience, Godsey has dedicated his life to the nonprofit sector and has been responsible for raising more than 700 million dollars for nonprofit organizations in health and community building.

Press Release 05/01/13 - Jourdanton Elementary School wins $1,500 literacy grant from ATPE Foundation
AUSTIN – Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Foundation board member Tina Briones made a special presentation to Jourdanton Elementary School during its April school board meeting to recognize the school for winning a $1,500 literacy grant from the foundation. Kay Longley, the school librarian, applied for the foundation’s Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant with the hope of adding new books to a library collection that is more than 15 years old.

Press Release 04/22/13 - Tuloso-Midway Primary School wins $1,500 literacy grant from ATPE Foundation
AUSTIN – Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Foundation past president Rose Perez will make a special presentation to Tuloso-Midway Primary School during its school board meeting today to recognize the school for winning a $1,500 literacy grant from the ATPE Foundation. Sarah Walker, the school librarian, applied for the foundation’s Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant with the hope of adding new digital books to a library collection that is more than 15 years old.

Press Release 04/03/13 - Granger Elementary wins $1,500 literacy grant from ATPE Foundation
AUSTIN – Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Executive Director Doug Rogers will make a special presentation to Granger Elementary School during today’s Granger ISD school board meeting to recognize the school for winning a $1,500 literacy grant from the ATPE Foundation. Lisa Repa, a teacher at the school, applied for the foundation’s Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant with the hope of adding new physical and digital books and computer software to a library collection that is more than 20 years old.

Press Release 02/26/13 - Wichita Falls teacher wins $2,500 tech grant from ATPE Foundation
AUSTIN – City View Elementary School teacher Keven Robertson was recently recognized by her school district for winning a $2,500 technology grant from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Foundation. Robertson, a gifted and talented teacher and coordinator, used the grant funds to purchase 10 Nexus tablets for student use.

Press Release 02/26/13 - San Antonio teacher wins $2,500 grant from ATPE
SAN ANTONIO – The ATPE Foundation recently recognized Northside ISD teacher Karen Dunlap for winning a $2,500 technology at the school district’s February board meeting in San Antonio. Evers, a campus instructional technologist at Christian Evers Elementary School, used the grant funds to purchase Mobis, interactive whiteboards for teacher and student use.

Press Release 02/05/13 - Hundreds of educators to lobby at State Capitol
AUSTIN – Approximately 400 educators are expected to meet with state legislators to discuss key public education issues during the Association of Texas Professional Educators’ (ATPE) Lobby Day Feb. 11 at the Texas State Capitol.

Press Release 02/04/13 - School finance lawsuit decision proves system is broken and harming students
AUSTIN – State district Judge John Dietz ruled today that Texas’ system of funding schools is not adequately funded or efficient. The following is a statement from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) State President Deann Lee regarding this ruling.

Press Release 01/22/13 - Denton ISD teacher wins $1,000 grant from ATPE
AUSTIN – Denton Independent School District second grade teacher Jeanetta Byrd was selected as the recipient of a $1,000 Grant for Teaching Excellence award in the elementary category from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Byrd teaches at Savannah Elementary School in Denton.

Press Release 01/22/13 - Houston ISD teacher wins $1,000 grant from ATPE
AUSTIN – Houston Independent School District English teacher Stephanie Moreno was selected as the recipient of a $1,000 Grant for Teaching Excellence award in the secondary category from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Moreno teaches at Waltrip High School in Houston.

Press Release 01/11/13 - ATPE leader says educators carrying guns could be devastating to school district liability
AUSTIN – Following Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s comments today on allowing state-funded, specialized firearms training for teachers and administrators, Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) State President Deann Lee said she would not want to be the educator nominated to carry a weapon in her school district to protect against school shootings.

Press Release 01/07/13 - Comptroller’s revenue estimates show funding can be restored to public education
AUSTIN – The following is a statement from Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) State President Deann Lee regarding the state’s Biennial Revenue Estimate report released today by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. The report reveals that money is available to restore funding to public education. According to the report, the state will have a balance of $8.8 billion at the end of the current budget cycle. During the 2011 legislative session, the legislature cut $5.4 billion from public education. Because of an $8.8 billion balance this biennium, the legislature could have prevented those cuts and still had money left over.

Press Release 10/31/12 - ATPE Foundation Golf Tournament raises $50K plus for public education
AUSTIN – The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Foundation welcomed its largest turnout to its third annual golf tournament on Oct. 26 at the Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock. More than 90 educators and public education advocates traveled from across the state to the Austin area to participate in the foundation’s largest fundraising event.

Press Release 9/28/12 - ATPE honored for supporting Texas public schools
AUSTIN – Ten Texas companies have been named recipients of the State Board of Education’s Employers for Education Excellence (EEE) Award for 2012.

Press Release 9/6/12 - State’s top teachers give public education a C
AUSTIN – When a group of Texas’ top teachers were asked what grade they would give public education, they said a “C.” “If you want to talk about the potential of what we can and what we should be able to accomplish, I would give it an A. But there’s a huge discrepancy in what we can do and what we’re actually doing,” said a teacher who participated in a focus group at the Texas Regional Teacher of the Year Gathering hosted by the ATPE Foundation over the summer.

Statement 8/27/12 - ATPE releases statement on new education commissioner
The following is a statement by Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) President Deann Lee regarding Gov. Rick Perry’s appointment of Michael Williams as commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.

Press Release 8/27/12 - Paris ISD state and federal programs director elected ATPE state president
Deann Lee, director of state/federal program with the Paris Independent School District, was recently elected state president of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Her term began Aug. 1. Lee, an ATPE member for more than 20 years, has served the association as state vice president, secretary and state treasurer.

Statement 8/9/12 - ATPE releases statement on federal student accountability system
The following is a statement by Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) President Deann Lee regarding a Texas Education Agency announcement on less than half of Texas schools meeting yearly requirements set by the federal government under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Press Release 7/24/12 - Corpus Christi principal named Administrator Educator of the Year
South Park Middle School principal Dr. Sandra Clement was named Administrator Educator of the Year July 16 during the 2012 ATPE Summit Awards Banquet hosted by the Association of Texas Professional Educators at the Austin Convention Center. She was presented with a $1,000 check from ATPE.

Press Release 7/24/12 - Alternative school teacher wins Elementary Educator of the Year Award
Diane Pokluda, a former teacher at the Crowley Learning Center in the Crowley Independent School District, was recently honored as the Elementary Educator of the Year by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE).

Press Release 7/24/12 - Houston area teacher named Secondary Educator of the Year
Andrea Barnes, a middle school teacher in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, was recently honored as the Secondary Educator of the Year by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). The 23-year education veteran was presented with this honor and a $1,000 check during the 2012 ATPE Summit Awards Banquet July 16 at the Austin Convention Center

Press Release 7/24/12 - Special education assistant named Associate Educator of the Year
Crystal Parks, a special education teacher’s assistant at Neblett Elementary School in Sherman Independent School District, was named Associate Educator of the Year July 16 during the 2012 ATPE Summit Awards Banquet hosted by the Association of Texas Professional Educators at the Austin Convention Center. She was presented with a $1,000 check from ATPE.

Press Release 6/14/12 - Education conference offers workshops, networking for school teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals
The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) will celebrate public school education and educators at the 2012 ATPE Summit July 14–16 at the Austin Convention Center in downtown Austin. More than 1,000 educators are expected to attend.

Press Release 6/7/12 - ATPE to honor three education news reporters.
The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) selected Abilene Reporter-News reporter Ethan Fowler, The Brownsville Herald reporter Gary Long and San Antonio Express-News reporter Francisco Vara-Orta to receive an award for excellent public education news coverage. Each education reporter is a 2012 winner of the association’s Alafair Hammett Media Award.

Press Release 5/23/12 - Texas Regional Teacher of the Year Gathering allows educators to share best practices.
The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Foundation will honor some of the best teachers in Texas at its Texas Regional Teacher of the Year Gathering scheduled for June 4-5 at The Westin Austin at the Domain. More than 20 of this year’s Texas Regional Teachers of the Year, including the 2012 Secondary Teacher of the Year Stephanie Stoebe of Round Rock ISD and the 2012 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year Karen Morman of McKinney ISD, are planning to attend.

Press Release 5/7/12 - ATPE launches new website featuring information on candidates running for state legislature, state board of education
The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) recently unveiled a new advocacy website. TeachtheVote.org makes it easy for Texas voters to learn where the candidates for state Legislature and the State Board of Education stand on important public education issues.

News coverage 5/7/12 – ATPE’s new website project, Teach the Vote, featured on the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) website

News coverage 5/7/12 – ATPE featured in Hays Free Press news article, "Coping with CSCOPE: Educators try to adapt to flawed curriculum software"

News coverage 5/6/12 – ATPE featured in Associated Press news article, "Next education commissioner facing big challenges"

News coverage 5/2/12 – ATPE featured in Plainview Daily Herald news article, "New ATPE website offers look at SBOE, legislative races"

News coverage 5/1/12 – ATPE featured in Dallas Morning News article, "Princeton ISD students break smartphones out into the open"

News coverage 4/30/12 – ATPE mentioned in Hays Free Press news article, "Applying political pressure: Teachers association heats up State Rep race"

News coverage 4/27/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle news article, "Education Austin keeps lead status"

News coverage 4/24/12 – ATPE mentioned in KVUE-TV (Austin ABC News) article, "Documentary draws national spotlight to Texas SBOE"

News coverage 4/24/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle story, "AISD approves employee policy"

News coverage 4/18/12 – ATPE Foundation featured in Weatherford Democrat news article, "Curtis receives literacy grant"

Press Release 4/17/12 - ATPE opposes video cameras in classroom
A representative for the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) voiced opposition at a Princeton ISD school board meeting Monday night regarding a recent policy that allows students to use cell phone cameras to record teachers during classroom instruction.

News coverage 4/17/12 – ATPE mentioned in NBC5 Dallas-Fort Worth news article, "Teacher group slams Princeton ISD’s recording policy"

News Coverage 4/17/12 – ATPE mentioned in KDAF-TV (Dallas CW News) article, "Princeton ISD teachers upset that students are allowed to use recorders in the classroom"

News Coverage 4/17/12 – ATPE mentioned in WFFA-TV (Dallas ABC News) article, "Collin County students using cell phones as learning aids"

News Coverage 4/16/12 – ATPE mentioned in KVUE-TV (Austin ABC News) article, "Public Ed advocates question Perry’s Texas Budget Compact"

News coverage 4/15/12 – ATPE mentioned in Killeen Daily Herald news article, "More test days alarm educators in Killeen"

News Coverage 4/13/12 – ATPE Foundation featured on Weatherford ISD campus news story, "Curtis Elementary receives $1,000 grant from Association of Texas Professional Educators"

News Coverage 4/11/12 – ATPE mentioned in El Paso Times news article, "EPISD to allow process giving workers more voice in policies"

News Coverage 4/11/12 – ATPE candidate forum featured on KLTV Channel 7 News in Tyler

News Coverage 4/10/12 – ATPE member Sue Melton featured in TFN Insider article, "Opposing Texas SBOE candidates talk evolution and science education"

News Coverage 4/9/12 – ATPE Foundation mentioned in KTSM-TV news article, "Parkland High School library wins $1,000 grant"

News Coverage 4/8/12 – ATPE mentioned in El Paso Times news article, "El Paso ISD to mull broader consultation process"

News Coverage 4/6/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle article, "AISD inches toward consultation deal"

News Coverage 3/30/12 – ATPE mentioned in The American Prospect article, "It takes an election: Rallies can energize supporters of a cause, but rarely do they change policy"

News Coverage 3/28/12 – ATPE mentioned in KVIA-TV (El Paso ABC news) article, "EPISD proposed policy change divides teachers’ associations"

News Coverage 3/27/12 – ATPE mentioned in Hays Free Press news article, "Hays teacher group "gunning for" state Rep. Jason Isaac"

News Coverage 3/26/12 – ATPE featured in Waxahachie Daily Light news article, "Rally for Texas education"

News Coverage 3/23/12 – ATPE mentioned in Corpus Christi Caller-Times news article, "Local teacher unions, associations to send delegation to Save Texas Schools Rally"

News Coverage 3/18/12 – ATPE Grant for Teaching Excellence winner Lauri Peters featured in San Antonio Express-News article, "Providing food for thought at the 'Reading Restaurant'"

News Coverage 3/7/12 – ATPE mentioned in Killeen Daily Herald news article, "Killeen teachers seek vote on contract language"

Press Release 3/2/12 - San Antonio teacher wins $1,000 grant from ATPE
SAN ANTONIO—–East Central Independent School District Dyslexia Specialist Lauri Peters was selected as the recipient of a $1,000 Grant for Teaching Excellence award in the elementary category from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Peters teaches at Pecan Valley Elementary School in San Antonio.

Press Release 3/2/12 - Paris teacher wins $1,000 grant from ATPE
PARIS—–Paris Independent School District science teacher Jodi Andoe was selected as the recipient of a $1,000 Grant for Teaching Excellence award in the secondary category from the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Andoe teaches eighth grade science at Paris Junior High School.

News Coverage 2/27/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle article, "AISD versus representative democracy"

News Coverage 2/24/12 – ATPE webinar series featured in Round Rock Leader

News Coverage 2/24/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle article, "AISD board postpones union vote"

News Coverage 2/20/12 – ATPE mentioned in KUT news article, "Austin school board examines contract with union tonight"

News Coverage 2/20/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin American-Statesman news article, "Austin school board to discuss labor negotiation tonight"

News Coverage 2/19/12 – ATPE candidate forum featured in article

News Coverage 2/17/12 – ATPE mentioned in PolitiFact article

News Coverage 2/17/12 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle article, "Austin Education vs. Education Austin"

News Coverage 2/14/12 – ATPE Foundation mentioned in news article, "Pasadena High athletic trainer wins grant"

News Coverage 2/9/12 – ATPE mentioned in Fort Worth Star-Telegram news article, "DFW teachers' morale is plummeting amid effects of Texas budget cuts"

News Coverage 2/3/12 – ATPE mentioned in Killeen Daily Herald news article, "Teacher salaries stagnant as state tackles budget woes"

News coverage 1/26/12 – ATPE mentioned in Abilene-Reporter News article, "Abilene, Big Country districts say their teachers work more than enough hours each school day"

News coverage 1/25/12 – ATPE Foundation featured in The Pasadena Citizen news article, "Pasadena High athletic trainer receives $2,500 grant from ATPE"

News coverage 1/11/12 – ATPE mentioned in The Hays Free Press news article, "HCISD bringing teacher pay 'up to average'"

News coverage 1/9/12 – ATPE mentioned in Victoria Advocate news article, "Collective bargaining could lead to strikes, divisiveness in schools"

News coverage 1/4/12–ATPE Foundation literacy grant initiative featured in Killeen Daily Herald

Press Release 1/4/12 - Literacy grant open to Texas public school libraries
AUSTIN—The ATPE Foundation’s literacy initiative grant provides funds to Texas public school libraries for the modernization of literacy materials and resources. The deadline to apply for the grant is Feb. 1.

News coverage 12/7/11 – ATPE mentioned in Austin American-Statesman news article, "Austin education group wants to keep its exclusive status"

News coverage 12/2/11 – ATPE mentioned in Austin Chronicle news article, "'More Inclusive' at the Exclusion of Teachers?"

Press Release 10/28/11 - ATPE Foundation Golf Tournament raises more than $36,000
AUSTIN—The ATPE Foundation Golf Tournament raised more than $36,000 Oct. 21. Seventy-two business professionals and education advocates played in the tournament at the Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock.

Statement 10/11/2011 - ATPE President: Court order might help fix school finance system
AUSTIN—The following is a statement by Cheryl Buchanan, president of the 116,000-plus member Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), regarding the school funding lawsuit recently filed against the state.

Press Release 10/5/2011 - ATPE Foundation Golf Tournament benefits Texas schools
AUSTIN—The ATPE Foundation Golf Tournament benefitting Texas public schools will be held 8 a.m., Friday, Oct. 21 at Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock.

Press Release 9/12/2011 - Report: Educators are frustrated with teaching to test
AUSTIN—Some of the state’s best educators are frustrated because they are forced to spend most of their classroom time teaching students how to pass high-stake tests, according to a recent report on a focus group held at the ATPE Foundation Regional Teacher of the Year Gathering.

News coverage 8/29/2011 – ATPE Secondary Educator of the Year Award winner featured on NBC in Rio Grande Valley

Press Release 8/25/2011 - Ballinger ISD educator elected ATPE state president
AUSTIN—Cheryl Buchanan, a six-grade English and ESL teacher in Ballinger ISD, was recently elected state secretary of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Her term began Aug. 1.

Press Release 8/25/2011 - Paris ISD employee elected ATPE state vice president
AUSTIN—Deann Lee, director of state/federal programs in Paris ISD, was recently elected state vice president of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Her term began Aug. 1.

Press Release 8/25/2011 - Martinsville ISD educator elected ATPE State Secretary
AUSTIN—Ginger Franks, a special education teacher in Martinsville ISD, was recently elected state secretary of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). Her term began Aug. 1.

Press Release 8/25/2011 - Boerne ISD educator elected ATPE State Treasurer
AUSTIN—Richard Wiggins, a special education department chair in Boerne ISD, was recently elected state treasurer of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE). His term began Aug. 1.

Press Release 8/23/2011 - Falls City ATPE honored as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year
AUSTIN—The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) honored Falls City ATPE as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year for local units with one to 500 members. Falls City ATPE was presented the award July 22 during the ATPE Summit Membership Awards Luncheon at the Austin Convention Center.

Press Release 8/23/2011 - Willis ATPE honored as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year
AUSTIN—The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) honored Willis ATPE as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year for local units with 501 to 1,000 members. Willis ATPE was presented the award July 22 during the ATPE Summit Membership Awards Luncheon at the Austin Convention Center.

Press Release 8/23/2011 - Mesquite ATPE honored as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year
AUSTIN—The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) honored Mesquite ATPE as a 2011 Local Unit of the Year for local units with 1,001-plus members. Mesquite ATPE was presented the award July 22 during the ATPE Summit Membership Awards Luncheon at the Austin Convention Center.

Press Release 8/23/2011 - ATPE honors campus representatives of the year
AUSTIN—The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) presented three of its members with the Campus Representative of the Year Award July 22 during the ATPE Summit Membership Awards Luncheon at the Austin Convention Center.

Press Release 8/3/2011 - ATPE offers free webinars open to any Texas educator
AUSTIN—The state’s largest educators’ organization, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), will begin a free webinar series open to any Texas educator today. More than 700 educators have registered for the first webinar.

Press Release 7/27/2011 - Mesquite superintendent named Educator of the Year
AUSTIN—Mesquite ISD Superintendent Linda Henrie received top honors when the state’s largest educators group named her Administrator of the Year.

Press Release 7/27/2011 - School secretary named Associate Educator of the Year
AUSTIN—Deer Creek Elementary School secretary Carolyn Williams of Crowley, Texas was honored as the Associate Educator of the Year July 21 by the state’s largest educators group.

Press Release 7/27/2011 - Third-grade teacher wins Elementary Educator of the Year
AUSTIN—T.M. Clark Elementary School third-grade teacher Veronica Stapper of Portland, Texas was honored as the Elementary Educator of the Year July 21 by the state’s largest educators group.

Press Release 7/27/2011 - Ninth-grade teacher named Secondary Educator of the Year
AUSTIN—Hannah High School ninth-grade teacher Scott Sherman of Brownsville, Texas, was honored as the Secondary Educator of the Year July 21 by the state’s largest educators group.

Press Release 7/27/2011 - School behavior specialist named Special Services Educator of the Year
AUSTIN—Andrews Middle School behavior specialist Donny Hearn of Andrews, Texas, was honored as the Special Services Educator of the Year July 21 by the state’s largest educators group.

Press Release 7/14/2011 - More than 1,000 educators to attend ATPE conference
AUSTIN—The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) will host the 2011 ATPE Summit July 20–23 at the Austin Convention Center.

Press Release 7/8/2011 - Education commissioner rules in favor of terminated ATPE members
AUSTIN—A Texas school district has been ordered to rehire four employees it had wrongfully terminated after Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott issued a ruling July 5 that found the district’s decision not to renew the employees’ contracts due to a reduction in force (RIF) was ”arbitrary and capricious„.

Press Release 6/16/2011 - “Mandate relief” bill brings no relief to teachers, schools
AUSTIN—Senate Bill 8, a comprehensive “mandate relief” bill that adds numerous amendments that will do long–term damage to public education, passed today in the Texas House of Representatives. The House piled on several floor amendments to SB 8— many of which will further hurt educators at a time when they are already facing layoffs as well as the likelihood of furloughs and pay cuts.

Press Release 5/13/2011 - Four Killeen ISD educators appeal alleged RIF
AUSTIN—An attorney representing members of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) has filed an appeal with Commissioner of Education Robert Scott against the Killeen Independent School District for terminating member’s employment due to an alleged reduction in force (RIF).

Press Release 4/20/2011 - ATPE encourages lawmakers to protect the classroom
AUSTIN—The Texas House of Representatives is set to take up House Bill (HB) 400 Thursday, April 21. The following is a statement by Brock Gregg, governmental relations director for the 116,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), regarding the bill, which the organization believes will jeopardize the quality and standards of education statewide.

Press Release 12/08/2010 - Parents educators support maintaining class-size limits
AUSTIN – The following is a statement by Brock Gregg, governmental relations director for the 115,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding the release of the Financial Allocation Study of Texas (FAST) and its implication on the state’s class-size law:

Press Release 10/22/2010 - ATPE releases teacher quality study
A study recently released by the state’s largest educators’ group found that the teachers with the most experience and qualifications tend to be found in more affluent, higherachieving schools:

Press Release 10/08/2010 - SBEC to vote on Educators' Code of Ethics
AUSTIN – Major changes to rules governing the ethics of Texas teachers are up for a vote Friday by the State Board for Educator Certification, and the changes still have significant issues, according to the state’s largest educators’ group.

Press Release 08/5/2010 - Governor playing politics with needed ed funding
AUSTIN – The following is a statement by Brock Gregg, governmental relations director for the 115,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding the recent passage of the state aid package (H.R. 1586):

Press Release 07/22/2010 - Educators urge responsible management of PSF
The following is a statement by Monty Exter, a lobbyist for the 115,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding the State Board of Education's consideration of a plan to invest Permanent School Fund resources in charter school facilities:

Press Release 06/29/2010 - AG opinion protects teacher pay
AUSTIN – School districts will be required to give teachers annual pay increases based on years of experience for the 2010-11 school year, according to an opinion issues today by Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott.

Press Release 05/19/2010 - Discontent over social studies continues
AUSTIN – The following is a statement by Sam Spurlock, state president of the 115,000-plus member strong Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding the contentious social studies debate during this week’s State Board of Education (SBOE) hearings:

Press Release 04/22/2010 - Teacher turnover costing school districts millions
ATPE testified that districts could save an estimated $500 million associated with teacher attrition by establishing a state-funded educator mentor and induction program that is ..."

Press Release 04/19/2010 - ATPE celebrates anniversary, reaches milestone
ATPE reached two new milestones this month: ATPE celebrated its 30th anniversary and reached the impressive 115,000-member mark ..."

Press Release 12/17/2009 - ATPE honored for supporting public schools
ATPE was among 11 Texas employers honored at a recent meeting of the State Board of Education for their part in promoting employee volunteerism in neighborhood public schools ..."

Press Release 11/23/2009 - No 13th check for retired teachers, AG’s office says
Texas retired educators will not get a “13th check” this year, according to an opinion released today by Attorney General Greg Abbott ..."

Press Release 11/20/2009 - Teachers in best position to determine students’ grades
The following is a statement from Sam Spurlock, ATPE state president, regarding the lawsuit filed by six Texas school districts over TEA’s interpretation of the new minimum grading law ...

Press Release 10/08/2009 - SBEC to vote on major changes to educator prep program standards
"The State Board for Educator Certification will take its first vote tomorrow on major changes to the state’s accreditation system for all educator preparation programs ..."

Press Release 09/15/2009 - Political battle over curriculum not in the interests of Texas students
"..the State Board of Education’s attempt to write a rigorous and challenging social studies curriculum already appears to be dissolving into a partisan battle at the expense of the millions of Texas schoolchildren ..."

Press Release 08/27/2009 - Let teachers, not school districts, determine grades
Millions of Texas schoolchildren returned to school this week, and many of them will continue to receive grades that they might not have earned ...

Press Release 07/24/2009 - Olney teacher heads to DC to talk education issues
The president of the nation’s largest nonunion educator association led a team to Capitol Hill last week to discuss how federal regulations affect Texas public schools. Sam Spurlock, an Olney Junior High School science teacher and ...

Press Release 07/15/2009 - Top local units and campus reps named (pdf)
The winners of the Association of Texas Professional Educators 2009 Local Unit of the Year and Campus Representative of the Year awards were announced during a special ceremony at the association’s annual “Leader U” leadership workshop...

Press Release 05/27/2009 - Senate approves teacher pay raise (pdf)
The Senate approved a bill late yesterday that will give teachers in Texas public schools a much-needed pay increase. House Bill 3646, by Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), provides school districts with $1.9 billion in new funding...

Press Release 04/29/2009 - Important changes still needed in accountability (pdf)
The following is a statement by Jerry Bonham, a teacher with the Mesquite Independent School District and state president of the 112,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding Senate Bill 3 by Sen. Florence Shapiro (R–Plano) and House Bill 3 by Rep. Rob Eissler (R–The Woodlands)...