2010-11 ATPE leadership award recipients

Local Units with 1-500 Members

Katherine Whitbeck
Nacogdoches ATPE
Whitbeck has organized email groups for each Nacogdoches ISD campus, putting each member into his or her proper membership category. This allows her to connect with members and forward on information from the ATPE state office and Region 7. "Email is the most convenient tool I use because I can get the word out quickly, using a minimum amount of paper," she says.
Finalists: Bob Beckett, Boerne ATPE, and Ma Elena Ingram, McAllen ATPE

Local Units with 501-1,000 Members

Roger Gutierrez
Weslaco ATPE
Gutierrez believes that the most important tool a campus rep can use is proper communication, be that communication about policy coverage dates, membership deadlines or educational issues. He holds educator breakfasts at the start of each new year to share with members any new ATPE information. "I try to sit down and chat with as many people as possible about the issues that are affecting educators across the state and the benefits of being an ATPE member," he says.
Finalists: Cory Colby, Willis ATPE, and Debbie Williamson, Galena Park ATPE

Local Units with 1,001-plus Members

Monica Gonzalez-Rios
Corpus Christi ATPE
Gonzalez-Rios has a special ATPE bulletin board on which she posts the latest in ATPE information, legislative updates, meeting notices, comparison fliers and more. She knows the value of proper information. "When questions are asked of me about the organization, if I cannot answer the question I always refer them to the website or to the ATPE state office," she says. "I then explain to them that it is important for them to get the right information and the best way is to call the state office."
Finalist: Cassandra Carter, Northside (20) ATPE

University Local Units

East Texas Baptist University ATPE
Region 7
Chartered in 2008
52 members
2010-11 officers: President Amy Crumrine (pictured), Vice President Jennifer Hargraves, Secretary Anna Hardy and Treasurer Lacey Lasater
Finalists: Lone Star College-Tomball ATPE, Region 4, and Texas Woman's University, Region 11

Local Units with 1-500 Members

Falls City ATPE
Region 3
Chartered in 2000
47 members
2010-11 officers: President Cathy Stolle (pictured), Vice President Debbie Wiatrek, Secretary Phyllis Jarzombek, and Treasurer Dorothy Kotara
Finalists: Clint ATPE, Region 19, and Nacogdoches ATPE, Region 7

Local Units with 501-1000 Members

Willis ATPE
Region 6
Chartered in 1985
516 members
2010-11 officers: President Donna Ward (pictured), Vice President and Membership Chair Judi Thomas, Secretary Cory Colby, Treasurer Lori Mitchell
Finalists: Leander ATPE, Region 13, and Mission ATPE, Region 1

Local Units with 1,001-plus Members

Mesquite ATPE
Region 10
Chartered in 1982
2,343 members
2010-11 officers: President Carl Garner, Vice President Kristi Petty, Secretary Kevin Morgan, Treasurer Amy Roby and Membership Chair Paula Kusewitt
Finalist: Round Rock ATPE, Region 13

Richard Wiggins - Boerne ATPE
Richard Wiggins has been an advocate since he was 8 years old and "block-walked" with his mother in support of John F. Kennedy. Since those early days, Wiggins has moved on to advocating for public education through his membership in ATPE and has formed relationships with many legislators on the local, state and national levels. And as part of Boerne ATPE, Wiggins helped create a Meet the Candidate Night, a meeting with members of the Boerne ISD school board during which they are asked questions developed by ATPE members; the event is sponsored by the local unit and has been held in both of the past two years.

Stephen F. Austin honorees are the greatest supporters of the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC). This honor is bestowed based on cumulative contributions to ATPE-PAC since July 1997. This year, ATPE-PAC is proud to announce the fifth member to reach the $4,000-contribution level?Carol Davies of Mesquite ATPE?and the first member to reach the $6,000-contribution level?Richard Wiggins of Boerne ATPE.

 Regions with fewer than
10,000 members

 Regions with
10,000+ members

 Local units with
  1,000-1?500 members