March 19, 2019
#PrincipalsAdvocate in DC: Lend Your Voice Wednesday
TEPSA leaders in DC
While still monitoring the Texas legislative session, some of our TEPSA leaders are in Washington, DC this week talking to federal lawmakers about the importance of investing in public schools.

Follow our team tomorrow (Wednesday) and lend your voice to the conversation using the hashtags #PrincipalsAdvocate #naespNLC and #WeLeadTX.

Thank you for helping us represent our Texas students and principals!

Pictured: NAESP Rep Vic Eugenio, Fort Worth ISD; TEPSA President Yolanda Delaney, Canyon ISD; and President Elect Annette Sanchez, Beeville ISD
Lifetouch and Shutterfly
WIN Time is What I Need : TEPSA Fast 15 Webinar
WIN - What I Need!
Presented by Laura Flynn, Principal, Mockingbird Elementary, Coppell ISD

Some of the benefits of schoolwide WIN time:
  • Collective Teacher Efficacy - shared ownership of our kids.
  • The ability to connect with more kids - relationships are EVERYTHING!
  • School data shows they're closing achievement gaps across grade levels and content areas.
  • During Collaborative Team Time (CTT), educators are also learning as they share instructional strategies that will impact student achievement.
Greatness Starts in PreK: Sign the Petition
Our friends at Raise Your Hand Texas recently launched a petition encouraging Texas educators to support full day PreK.

  • More than half of Texas students are not ready for kindergarten. Kindergarten readiness is the first step toward reading readiness.
  • All Texas kids deserve a fair shot at learning, yet Texas only funds half-day (3-hour) pre-kindergarten for our at-risk 4-year-olds.
  • The legislature is considering a bill to expand PreK to a full-day for these students.

Add your voice in support of Texas’ youngest learners. Because the future of Texas is in our public schools!
News and Updates

TEA is seeking to better understand what teaching positions have been difficult to staff, what teacher job postings have remained vacant throughout the year, and how teacher vacancies compare to previous years. The information provided could be used to inform TEA's approach to supporting districts and charters across the state in the area of teacher recruitment.  

"While lawmakers are confident the state’s booming economy will provide big bucks to spend on public schools, they are also pitching a number of plans to increase the state sales tax in the future. ... the proposal with the most apparent momentum is a tax swap that would allow local governments to charge a higher sales tax in exchange for reducing property tax levies."

In the trying to stay one step ahead of kids and technology category - some kids are using Google Docs to skirt their teachers' and parents’ tech rules.
Beaumont Principal Featured on Today

Beaumont ISD Principal Dr. Belinda George, Homer Drive Elementary was recently featured on the Today show for her commitment to student literacy. Belinda hosts a Facebook live each week to read to her students.

Belinda credits TEPSA member Stephanie McConnell, founder of Principal Principles Leadership and Learning Community Facebook Group, for giving her the idea. The online Facebook group is resource for principals across Texas.

Stephanie will be presenting at TEPSA Summer Conference! Register by May 13 and save!

Help Us Create a YouTube Channel: Subscribe Today
YouTube
As we work to build our online presence with video, please help us create a TEPSA YouTube Channel by subscribing to TEPSA. We need 100 subscribers in order to create our own channel specifically for YOU!

Just use your gmail account to subscribe and get ready for more great resources for Texas PreK-8 principals, assistant principals and supervisors!
Student Council Award Recipients
Recognize Your Student Council

TEPSA's Student Leadership Award recognizes outstanding Student Councils and Student Leadership Teams that positively impact their school and communities.

Recipients of the TEPSA Student Leadership Award receive: 
  • Principal recognition at the TEPSA Summer Conference Awards Reception June 12 in Austin. 
  • Trophy presentation to advisors and students at your fall Leaders 'R' Us workshop.
  • Award letter sent to the principal and superintendent.
  • School listing on the TEPSA website. 

Prepare your application in advance by downloading the preparation form with an overview of the questions within the application. You must complete the online form in one session. Google Forms will NOT allow you to save an incomplete application.

Pictured: Representatives from College Street Elementary in Lewisville ISD.
#WeLeadTX