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FEATURED NEWS

Two TCTA members among Teacher of the Year finalists

TCTA members Kevin Criss and JoMeka Gray are among the six 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year state finalists. The elementary and secondary winners will be announced at an Oct. 25 banquet.

The elementary finalists are:

• Kevin Criss, Cambridge Elementary School, Alamo Heights ISD, Region 20, a TCTA member since 2022
• JoMeka Gray, Kennedy-Powell Elementary School, Temple ISD, Region 12, a TCTA member since 2012
• Kristi Leff, Humphrey’s Highland Elementary School, Amarillo ISD, Region 16

The secondary finalists are:

• Christine Mihealsick, Westwood High School, Round Rock ISD, Region 13
• Darla Morrow, James R. Brooks Middle School, Greenwood ISD, Region 18
• Melissa Farias Zúñiga, New Braunfels High School, New Braunfels ISD, Region 20

Along with Criss and Gray, seven other TCTA members are among the 2025 Texas Regional Teachers of the Year:

• Region 1 Elementary – Brianne Castillo, Sullivan Environmental Science Academy, San Benito CISD, a TCTA member since 2016
• Region 1 Secondary – Erick Morin, Instruction and Guidance Center, McAllen ISD, a TCTA member since 2014
• Region 4 Secondary – Jessica Brink, Sweeny High School, Sweeny ISD, a TCTA member since 2022
• Region 7 Elementary – Diana Smith, Edgewood Intermediate School, Edgewood ISD, a TCTA member since 2013
• Region 14 Elementary – Megan Jimenez, Merkel Elementary School, Merkel ISD, a TCTA member since 2019
• Region 15 Secondary – Deb Pritchard, Winters High School, Winters ISD, a TCTA member since 2006
• Region 17 Elementary – Morgan Combs, South Elementary School, Levelland ISD, a TCTA member since 2013

For the full list of this year's regional winners, click here.

TEA issues notice of required linguistic supports for emergent bilingual students

The Texas Education Agency has issued updated guidance about requirements to provide appropriate linguistic supports and assessment accommodations to all emergent bilingual students, including those with parent denials of program participation, to help make content comprehensible and make data-informed decisions for classroom and assessment accommodations.  

TEA said Content-Based Language Instruction methods should be employed during all levels of instruction to develop language and attain content mastery of TEKS and ELPS in all grade levels and across disciplines to impact the overall educational experience of all emergent bilingual students. 

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Teacher sues school district for age discrimination, retaliation

A math teacher in his late 60s filed a lawsuit against his school district, alleging that the district discriminated and retaliated against him in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. A district court dismissed the lawsuit and the teacher appealed.

The teacher was employed as one of two eighth grade math teachers on the campus. A few weeks into the school year, he was placed on a support plan based on concerns with his performance and preparation. He was reassigned to assist in a sixth grade math class. When a seventh grade math teacher resigned a few weeks later, the district initially assigned the teacher to fill the seventh grade position but replaced him soon after with another teacher, a woman in her 20s. Click here to read more.

OTHER NEWS

Officials say new panic alarm system saved lives during Georgia school shooting. Advocates want it nationwide.

A new panic alarm system that was triggered during Wednesday’s deadly shooting at a Georgia high school likely saved countless lives, authorities and advocates for the technology said.

Lockdown warnings flashed on classroom screens at Apalachee High School as gunshots rang out, prompting students and teachers to lock the door, turn off the lights and huddle in the farthest corner from the door, witnesses said.

At the same time, alerts automatically went out to law enforcement officers, who responded and ended the shooting rampage within minutes, according Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. The Centegix system was installed in the school a week before the shooting that killed two students and two teachers, wounding nine others. Click here to read more.

In Texas, a few school districts are also using the Centegix alert system, including Marble Falls ISD. Texas lawmakers passed Alyssa's Law in 2023, which requires panic devices in every Texas classroom by the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

TCTA joins those mourning the loss of lives at Apalachee High School, and our thoughts are with the families affected by this senseless act. It is our deepest hope that lawmakers can come together and develop effective solutions to stop school shootings.

Poll: Americans want next president to focus on hiring teachers, workforce prep

Heading into the 2024 presidential election, a new PDK poll shows that when it comes to education, Americans overwhelmingly agree that the next president should focus on two things: preparing students for careers and attracting top teachers who will stay in the profession.

But beyond those narrow avenues of agreement, the country is separated by large partisan differences on issues from student mental health to paying for college. American voters also vary widely on their views of Washington’s role in education. The poll also found that only 4 in 10 parents want to see one of their children become a teacher — a significant drop from the three-fourths of parents who favored that choice when the question was first asked in 1969. The primary reason: low pay. Click here to read more.

Did you renew your TCTA membership yet?

Members from the 2023-24 school year who have not yet renewed have until Sept. 30 to renew their membership to ensure continuous professional liability insurance coverage and access to TCTA's staff attorneys in 2024-25.

Invite your colleagues to join TCTA. Ask them to include your member number or name in the Take 2 box and you can earn $25 for every two eligible First-Time Active members you recruit. Click here for details.

• The State Board of Education meets Sept. 10-13 in Austin.
• The TRS Board of Trustees meets Sept. 19-20 in Austin.
• The State Board for Educator Certification meets Sept. 20 in Austin.
• Apply for H-E-B's Excellence in Education Awards by Oct. 7.