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Meet your 2010-11 ATPE Leaders
2010-11 State Officers

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David de la Garza President Northside, Region 20 De la Garza has 31 years of education experience and currently serves as a K-5 GT/enrichment specialist. |

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Cheryl Buchanan Vice president Ballinger, Region 15
A 23-year education veteran, Buchanan teaches sixth-grade English and ESL. |

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Deann Lee Secretary Paris, Region 8
Lee is Paris ISD’s state/federal programs director and has 22 years of education experience. |

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Ginger Franks Treasurer Nacogdoches County, Region 7
Franks, a 28-year education veteran, teaches special education in Martinsville ISD for the Nacogdoches County Co-op. |

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Sam Spurlock Past president Olney, Region 9
An educator for 32 years, Spurlock teaches seventh- and eighth-grade science. |
2010-11 Region Officers
Directors
| Region 1 |

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Mike Lopez La Joya |
| Region 2 |

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Jackie Hannebaum Corpus Christi |
| Region 3 |

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Jan Womack Goliad |
| Region 4 |

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Ann Petrillo Houston |
| Region 5 |

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Kirk Brown Beaumont |
| Region 6 |

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Brenda Lynch Huntsville |
| Region 7 |

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Nan Bryant Grand Saline |
| Region 8 |

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Rita Long Mount Vernon |
| Region 9 |

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Elizabeth Reynolds Jacksboro |
| Region 10 |

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Dab Johnson Mesquite |
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| Region 11 |

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Diane Pokluda Crowley |
| Region 12 |

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Julleen Bottoms Corsicana |
| Region 13 |

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Greg Vidal Pflugerville |
| Region 14 |

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Marsha Exum Abilene |
| Region 15 |

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Sarah Beal Coleman County |
| Region 16 |

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Shane Whitten Amarillo |
| Region 17 |

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Patricia Verett Lubbock |
| Region 18 |

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Teresa Griffin Stanton |
| Region 19 |

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Sandy Robinson Clint |
| Region 20 |

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Richard Wiggins Boerne |
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Presidents
| Region 1 |

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Ma Elena Ingram McAllen
Vice presidents:
Esther Buckley, Laredo;
Peg Leach, La Joya;
Amancio Garza, Edinburg
Secretary:
Terrie Schuette, McAllen
Treasurer:
Twila Figueroa, McAllen |
| Region 2 |

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Monica Gonzalez-Rios Corpus Christi
Vice president:
Rebecca Quinones,
Corpus Christi
Secretary: Lauro Rios, Alice
Treasurer: Kathryn Rhodes,
Corpus Christi
Past president:
Estella Sanders,
Corpus Christi
Misc. officer:
Virginia Randal,
Corpus Christi |
| Region 3 |

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Yvonne Meharg Goliad
Vice president:
Darlene Shick, Tidehaven
Secretary:
Joy Roppolo,
El Campo
Treasurer:
Terry Divers, Palacios |
| Region 4 |

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Ron Fitzwater Alvin
Vice president:
Debbie Cox,
Galena Park
Secretary:
Stacey Ward, Humble
Treasurer:
Eli Rodriguez,
Cypress-Fairbanks
Past president:
Julie Sanders, Alief |
| Region 5 |

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Bill Moye Warren
Vice president:
Jackie Arthur, Lumberton
Secretary:
Janice Brent, Vidor
Treasurer:
Sue Allen, Warren
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| Region 6 |

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Judi Thomas Willis
Vice president: Charles Lindsey, Magnolia
Secretary:
Cory Colby, Willis
Treasurer:
Lori Mitchell, Willis |
| Region 7 |

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Janie Leath Henderson
Vice president:
Kimberly Cross, Nacogdoches
Secretary:
Malinda Holzapfel, Woden
Treasurer:
Julie McCullough, Brownsboro-Chandler |
| Region 8 |

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Sandra Patterson North Lamar
Vice president:
Tracy D. Johnson, North Lamar
Secretary:
Karen Ives, Jefferson
Treasurer:
Carie Archer, Chisum |
| Region 9 |

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Monica Hicks-Bailey Wichita Falls
Vice president:
Patti Gibbs, Nocona
Secretary:
April Tipton, Bowie
Treasurer: Mandy
Cross, Wichita Falls
Past president:
Toni Stone, Bowie
Misc. officers: Peggy Clayton, Jacksboro; Trudy Matus, Olney;
Debra Reed, Burkburnett; Carol Rice, Perrin-Whitt |
| Region 10 |

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Merry Creager Ennis
Vice president:
Carl Garner, Mesquite
Secretary:
Shane Huff, Mesquite
Treasurer:
Kim Modica-Brown, DeSoto
Past president:
Jackie Davis, Garland |
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| Region 11 |

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David Williams Keller
Vice president:
Melba Roller, Carroll
Secretary:
Karen Hames, Lewisville
Treasurer:
Sheri Merritt,
Lake Worth
Past president:
Lynda Leuty, Birdville |
| Region 12 |

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Jason Forbis Midway
Vice president:
Sandra O’Connor, Waco
Secretary:
Ron Walcik, Killeen
Treasurer:
Tonya Rowswell, Corsicana
Past president:
Skip Omenson, Gatesville
Misc. officer:
Janice Hornsby, West |
| Region 13 |

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Jayne Serna Leander
Vice president:
Monica Huff-Dixon, Round Rock
Secretary:
Christie Smith, Pflugerville
Treasurer:
Cris Rocha, Del Valle |
| Region 14 |

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Sandra Konczak Abilene
Vice president:
Angel Haley, Abilene
Secretary:
Tonja Gray, Abilene
Treasurer:
David Curry, Abilene
Past president:
Larry Condra, Abilene |
| Region 15 |

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Darlene Kelly Ballinger
Vice president:
Jose Delgado,
San Felipe-Del Rio
Secretary:
Jennifer Lilly, Eldorado
Treasurer:
Luz Mendez, Junction
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| Region 16 |

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Linda James River Road
Vice president:
Julie Harris, Amarillo
Secretary:
Stephanie Parker, Bushland
Treasurer:
Judy Kutin, River Road |
| Region 17 |

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Lynette Ginn Hale Center
Vice presidents:
Caroljean Byrnes, Frenship; Alan Berry, Hale Center
Secretary: Ranelle Baldwin, Lubbock
Treasurer:
Gail Carter, Lubbock
Past president:
Susan Cooper, Lubbock |
| Region 18 |

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Tommy Harrison Odessa
Vice president:
Vicki Greenfield, Monahans-Wickett-Pyote
Secretary:
Bridget Loffler, Odessa
Treasurer:
Teresa Gross, Andrews |
| Region 19 |

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Socorro Lopez San Elizario
Vice president:
Patti Garcia, Ysleta
Secretary:
Cecy Bueno, Socorro
Treasurer:
Chad Shugart, El Paso |
| Region 20 |

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Sandra de Leon Northside
Vice president:
Tina Briones,
San Antonio
Secretary:
Irene Robbins, Lytle
Treasurer:
Beverly Barrett, Northside
Past president:
Skip Hildebrand,
San Antonio |
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Save big with ATPE’s new services and discounts
Prescriptions
The Neighborhood Pharmacy Program* assures members the lowest price on prescription drugs, saving them 10 to 60 percent on most short-term, acute-care prescriptions. Long-term prescriptions may be purchased at the local pharmacy, but for maximum, guaranteed savings, members are encouraged to use the mail-order pharmacy for maintenance drugs. The program is simple to use and includes more than 60,000 participating locations. Visit atpe.org to print your free card.
*Pharmacy discounts are Not Insurance and are Not Intended as a substitute for insurance. The discount is only available at participating pharmacies.
Cell phones
The ATPE Wireless Center features huge savings on phones and accessories, exclusive promotions, and cash rebates. Shop and compare plans and phones from all of the major carriers and brands. You’ll get the same great rate from the carrier you choose—plus a better phone at a better price.
Harry & David
ATPE members are eligible to receive a 15-percent discount on products purchased online from Harry & David.
Identity protection
ATPE members receive a discount on CSIdentity ProtectorSM, which accesses credit reports, court and criminal records, and noncredit loans to provide you with online reports, alerts and ongoing monitoring of fraudulent activity. Members are also insured up to $25,000 with identity theft insurance.
Log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information on these and the other services and discounts ATPE proudly offers members.
Enroll now in ATPE’s supplemental insurance benefits
ATPE is proud to offer guaranteed-issue supplemental insurance products exclusively for members. Members have access to group term life insurance at competitive rates that requires no medical underwriting and is guaranteed-issue, regardless of past or current health conditions.
Along with this unique life insurance benefit, ATPE has secured additional long-range planning insurance products that can protect your family against financial burdens brought on by unforeseen accidents and critical illness. Please log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information and to enroll. Enrollment is open through Oct. 10.
Congratulations to the 2009-10 Grant for Teaching Excellence recipients
Each year, ATPE awards two $1,000 grants—one to an elementary educator and one to a secondary educator—through the Grant for Teaching Excellence program. The program funds innovative classroom projects and was created in 1986 to honor Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
The 2009-10 grants were awarded in November 2009, and recipients spent the second semester of the school year implementing their projects. They were recognized for their accomplishments July 16 during the Leader U Awards Dinner.
Outdoor classroom engages learners

The elementary recipient, Malinda Holzapfel of Woden ISD, used the grant money she received to create the Eagle Outdoor Education Station at Woden Elementary.
This outdoor classroom provides a relaxing environment where students in prekindergarten through fifth grade can complete hands-on activities and learn about nature. Through direct experience, the outdoor classroom exposes students to nature areas and demonstration models such as weather stations, water flow systems and renewable energy installations.
“The outdoor classroom fosters active, hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a real-world setting,” Holzapfel wrote in her grant application. “By preserving a child’s innate sense of curiosity and wonder, we will foster active and engaged lifelong learners.”
Holzapfel reports that absences go down on outdoor classroom days and that when teachers ask if students want to visit the area, every student raises his hand. The proximity of the outdoor classroom to the surrounding neighborhood has also enhanced students’ sense of community.
“Through learning and stewardship activities, students come to understand that their school yard microcosm reflects global environmental issues,” Holzapfel wrote.
Cameras connect students with materials

The secondary recipient, Amy Counts of Nacogdoches ISD, used her grant to purchase eight Flip Video cameras for the English/language arts classes at Nacogdoches High School.
Counts saw the impact of technology in the classroom firsthand when she sent her summer school students off with Flip cameras. They came back with interviews of administrators, teachers and peers. The project was so successful that Counts wanted the ability to purchase more cameras for student use.
“The students are actively and independently learning while creating a product for others to see,” Counts wrote in her grant application. “They take pride in their success with this type of media and are eager to use it again and again.”
More than 1,000 students enrolled in grades nine through 12 at Nacogdoches High School have access to the cameras, which belong to the English/language arts department and are available for teachers to check out for classroom use.
“Access to cameras allows for differentiated learning that can easily be adapted to students’ needs and interests,” Counts wrote.
The faces of ATPE in 2010-11
Here’s a piece of ATPE trivia: The educators featured in ATPE’s recent membership campaign materials are actual ATPE members, not stock photography models, and the schools featured in the campaign are schools in the Austin area.
The 2010-11 membership campaign photography location was Lehman High School in Hays CISD. ATPE thanks Hays ATPE President Steve Thompson for his assistance in helping us gain access to this campus for the photo shoots. Also, special thanks to our 2010-11 member-models:
- Johanna Alvarado, Hays CISD.
- Elizabeth Bennett, Plano ISD.
- Sheryl Bibles, San Antonio ISD.
- Alison Kimble, Mesquite ISD.
- Linda McKay, Austin ISD.
- Marlen Olivarez, Edinburg CISD.
- Diane Porter, Plano ISD.
- Brooklynn Stapleton, Decatur ISD.
Are you in a district without an ATPE local unit?
If you work in a district that lacks an ATPE local unit, ask yourself:
- Have you ever wanted to volunteer for ATPE but weren’t sure how because there wasn’t a local unit in your area?
- Would you be willing to distribute ATPE materials to members in your district or on your campus?
- Would you be willing to attend your district’s new-teacher orientation to distribute membership applications and talk about ATPE?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the ATPE Ambassador program is for you! Visit www.atpe.org/AboutUs/ambassadorSignUp.aspx to sign up today. ATPE Ambassadors serve as a voice for ATPE in districts that currently do not have local units. You can volunteer in the capacities that suit your level of comfort, and the ATPE state office will provide you with the training and tools you need to succeed as an ATPE Ambassador.
If you have questions or would like more information on the ATPE Ambassador program, please contact ATPE Local Unit Coordinator Jessica McKay at jmckay@atpe.org or (800) 777-ATPE.
More ATPE News
The educator with the deciding vote
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The Educators’ Code of Ethics
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In the Classroom
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