Association of Texas Professional Educators
 
 

Professional Association Benefits

Membership in ATPE is an important part of your career. Each association’s benefits are different, so review them carefully before you join. ATPE membership for college students and teacher trainees is FREE, so join now.

Liability insurance and more

Comparison

If you are student teaching or otherwise interacting with students, you need protection that you can count on. When the need arises, no one wishes he did not carry insurance.

ATPE teacher trainee category members are covered* by:

  • $6 million in liability insurance, including up to $2 million per occurrence for alleged violations of students’ civil rights, one of the most common reasons parents sue educators.
  • $10,000 per claim for criminal and certification legal costs.
  • $2,500 for assault-related personal property damage.

In addition to these insured benefits, ATPE maintains a staff of licensed attorneys who may discuss options for employment-related concerns with eligible members**. This prompt and confidential service can be accessed simply by calling (800) 777-ATPE and is available at no additional cost to members.

Advocacy for educators and students

ATPE feels the same passion for education advocacy that you feel for teaching.

Our legislative lobby team works year-round with state and federal officeholders and state agencies to remove the obstacles that prevent educators from teaching and students from learning.

ATPE not only serves as a positive voice for public education, but we also teach educators (both current and future) how to be effective education advocates.

We provide our members with:

  • Political involvement training.
  • Opportunities to meet with decision makers.
  • Timely legislative news at atpe.org and through the Legislative Alert Network/ATPE Advocacy Center, an e-mail system that gives you quick and easy access to your elected officials.

Resources you can use

ATPE knows that teaching can be a challenge. That’s why we provide tools that support you so that you can serve your students.

Publications and Professional Development

  • ATPE News—a quarterly magazine full of ideas that can turn classroom challenges into successes
  • Essentials—a quick-read e-mail newsletter that keeps ATPE members up-to-date on news related to their profession (7 issues per year)
  • Answer Key—a unique e-newsletter that provides ATPE teacher trainee and college student members with news, advice and ATPE benefit information that is custom-tailored for the future educator.
  • atpe.org—our Web site hosts free online professional development, tips on topics from student discipline to special education as well as a student teacher section that features articles ranging from TExEs prep to job hunting

Services and Discounts
Receive discounts on auto insurance and repairs, theme park tickets, hotels, car rentals, prescription drugs, dental and vision services, shopping through the ATPE Online Mall and more. Take advantage of opportunities to plan for your future with guaranteed-issue life insurance and other supplemental insurance products (these programs are new in 2007-08).

Scholarships

  • Fred Wiesner Educational Excellence Scholarship—The ATPE Foundation awards up to four $1,500 scholarships each year to students enrolled in teacher-preparation programs at Texas colleges and universities.
  • Barbara Jordan Memorial Scholarship—The ATPE Foundation awards up to six $1,500 scholarships each year to students enrolled in teacher preparation programs at predominantly ethnic minority colleges and universities in Texas.
      

*The Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. All coverage is subject to the express terms of the master insurance policy issued to ATPE and kept on file at the ATPE state office. Coverage applies to the activities of an insured in the course of his/her duties as a student in a teacher education program in an accredited college or university.  Click here to download a summary in PDF format. Eligibility for ATPE membership benefits is contingent upon ATPE’s receipt of the entire annual membership dues amount for your appropriate membership category. A disruption in payments to an authorized payment plan may result in discontinuation of such benefits, including cancellation of insurance coverage for the entire membership year, retroactive to the earlier of Sept. 1 or your membership date.

**The insured member services and staff attorneys’ assistance are offered through separate programs.

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