To spread the love on Valentine's Day, we have compiled a list of places offering discounts to educators. You can save on school supplies, crafts, books, clothing, technology, travel and more.
Click here to view the list of discounts and find links to redeem offers. Most require ID or verification.
Early voting starts Tuesday in March 3 primary election
Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 18, and ends Friday, Feb. 28, in the March 3 primary election. Texas voters will be part of Super Tuesday when several states make selections in the 2020 presidential race. Texas voters also have a U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House seats, as well as Texas House, Texas Senate and State Board of Education seats on the ballot. There also may be county races on the ballot in your area. You can find information on candidates in the
Texas League of Women Voters election guide. Voters will select the Republican or Democratic primary ballot when they arrive at a polling location.
Controversial TRS lease on agenda of upcoming meetings
Lawmakers have reacted quickly to the recent disclosure of the lease agreement that TRS has made to house its investment division in prime downtown office space. The issue has been included on the agenda of next week’s TRS Board meeting (Feb. 20-21), as well as the Feb. 25 meeting of the Senate Finance Committee and the March 9 House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee meeting. TCTA will attend all of these meetings and will provide input to the extent testimony is allowed (some meetings do not include an opportunity for public comment).
TCTA's 2020-21 Executive Board takes office June 1. Pictured from left are Amy Collazo, Ann Martinez, Joyce McCurdy, Albert Mosqueda, Twila Read, Sherry Miller, Eleanore Malone, Melody Young, Cristal Isaacks and Nydia Alvarez-Alonzo.
Delegates elect new members of TCTA board
Delegates at TCTA's 2020 Annual Meeting on Feb. 7 in Austin heard from Education Commissioner Mike Morath about an optional proposal for additional school days in elementary grades, received advice on teamwork from UT Baseball Coach David Pierce, heard from TCTA's legal and lobby team members and elected four people to TCTA's Executive Board for terms beginning June 1. TCTA State President Albert Mosqueda presided over the Representative Assembly business meeting.
The Texas Education Agency is transitioning its Texas Gateway professional learning website to a new platform. Starting Monday, Feb. 17, the site will be unavailable until the migration to the new system is completed. TEA hopes to relaunch the site by mid-March. Participants currently enrolled in courses are urged to complete them by midnight Monday and save their completion certificates. Click here for a list of courses that will be impacted by the technology upgrade.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Teacher loses job due to relationship with student
A teacher’s contract was proposed for termination based on alleged inappropriate communications with a student. The teacher requested a hearing regarding the proposed termination of his contract.
At the hearing, the evidence revealed that the district received a report that the teacher engaged in a sexual relationship with a student in 2016. The district determined that the relationship had begun after the student graduated. However, during the course of its investigation, the district uncovered a series of electronic messages exchanged between the teacher and the student during the 2014-2015 school year that it believed were inappropriate.
Several districts across the state have canceled classes recently as students and teachers battle the flu. Schools are taking time to sanitize to prevent the disease from spreading. The Texas Education Agency recently released guidance for school districts as it monitors the number of flu cases in schools.
Click here to read more.
Apply by today for early childhood summit in Dallas
Applications are being accepted through today for the 2020 Texas Early Childhood Learning Summit in July in Dallas. The conference is for Texas Rising Star early learning program staff and district/charter prekindergarten staff.
Click here for more information and the application.
USDE launches schoolsafety.gov
The U.S. Department of Education has launched a new website to provide educators, students, parents and law enforcement with resources to prepare for and address threats to safety and security in schools.
