State advisory committee service

Throughout the year, various state agencies—including the Teacher Retirement System (TRS), State Board of Education (SBOE) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)—ask for volunteers to serve on advisory committees that work directly with the agencies on issues that affect your profession. If you’d like to volunteer in this capacity, fill out ATPE’s State of Texas Advisory Committee form and return it to the state office. ATPE uses these forms, which we accept year-round, to nominate members who fit the agencies’ requested requirements.

2011 ATPE Summit

Registration and housing for the first-ever ATPE Summit open April 1. Highlights of the event include:

1. The 31st-annual meeting of the ATPE House of Delegates and election of the 2011-12 ATPE state officers.
2. An inspirational opening general session with keynote speaker Jonathan Kozol.
3. Your choice of many ATPE leader training and professional development sessions.
4. Several awards celebrations to honor ATPE member accomplishments.
5. Free time to unwind and explore the sights and sounds of Austin.
6. A closing general session featuring the pulsating, exhilarating rhythms of Drum Café.
7. And more!

Find out more information about the summit at www.atpe.org/summit. Please let your local unit president know if you’re interested in attending.

The ATPE Book Circle

Through the ATPE Idea Exchange, our online forum for educators, participants in the ATPE Book Circle can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit for reading and discussing various professional development book titles that promote best practices in the classroom.

Starting in May, participants will read and discuss Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol, an education advocate and the 2011 ATPE Summit keynote speaker. Learn more and sign up for the Book Circle on the Idea Exchange.

Technology webinars

Don’t miss the remaining technology webinars provided to ATPE members free of charge through a collaboration with the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA):

1. April 27—Gaming in Education
2. May 31—Tools for Podcasting

To register for these webinars, visit TCEA’s Upcoming Events page. Members will be required to create a free new visitor registration on the TCEA website to register for the webinars. ATPE members should identify themselves through the “record source” as an ATPE member to receive the discount.

Follow ATPE on Twitter and Facebook

Are you connected? “Like” ATPE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OfficialATPE and follow along on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OfficialATPE to receive frequent updates on ATPE and interesting education news.