The ATPE Podcast

What makes in-person events so valuable for educators today? In an age where virtual meetings and webinars are more accessible than ever, why should you still consider showing up in person? Whether it's for professional development, networking, or simply feeling a deeper sense of connection, these face-to-face moments can offer something uniquely impactful. Joining the conversation is ATPE Engagement & Learning Specialist Andrea Hutlock, who recently attended SXSW EDU 2025. She shares reflections on what makes face-to-face experiences so energizing and meaningful, including thoughts on those spontaneous hallway chats and casual meetups that often leave the biggest impact. In this episode, Andrea offers practical tips for navigating the cost and logistics of attending events and explains how educators can get the most out of each opportunity—from planning ahead to decompressing afterward. If you've ever questioned whether it's worth the time and effort to show up in person, this episode is for you.

Have you ever wondered what it means for an educator to be "protected" while taking time off for medical or family reasons? Understanding what that entails is crucial when faced with a family emergency. This includes knowing the steps to request FMLA, eligibility requirements, the types of medical conditions that qualify, and the amount of leave you are entitled to under the law. Key benefits, such as job security during an absence, are also important to understand. Additionally, it's essential to know how Temporary Disability Leave (TDL) differs from FMLA and the potential consequences if an employee exhausts both of these resources. In this episode of the ATPE podcast, ATPE's Member Legal Services Department Managing Attorney Lance Cain continues his deep dive into educator leave, focusing specifically on protected leave and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).   The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

In his push for voucher legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott recently released a list of arguments made by public education advocates against school voucher programs. By labeling these legitimate concerns as “myths,” the governor has created a misleading narrative that can confuse voters about the true impact of school voucher legislation. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to critically evaluate these claims and look beyond the rhetoric to understand the real-world consequences for Texas schools and students. Join us as we dive deep into the governor's arguments, carefully fact-checking each one to uncover the truth behind his claims. In the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast, we're excited to welcome back ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter to fact-check the fact-checking in the ongoing debate over school vouchers in Texas.

As educators, taking time off when life requires it is a necessity. However, navigating the policies around leave can often feel overwhelming. For Texas educators, understanding the intricacies of leave types and policies is key to ensuring both your rights and responsibilities are respected. You might have heard the terms “discretionary” and “nondiscretionary” leave thrown around, but do you know how they are typically applied and when they can be used? Are you changing districts and want to know if all or any of your leave will roll over? How about the difference in state and local leave and the benefits associated with them? If you have ever asked yourself any of these common questions, then we have answers to these and more. In the first of a multipart series on educator leave, we sit down with ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain to unpack the often-confusing rules surrounding leave types and policies for Texas educators. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

On Jan. 5, President Joe Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act, the result of more than 40 years of ATPE advocacy. The law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two offsets formerly in Social Security law that unfairly reduced the retirement benefits of some public servants, including many Texas educators. David Pore, ATPE's federal consultant and a partner at Hance Scarborough LLP, joins ATPE Marketing and Engagement Director Kate Johanns to discuss this momentous victory and the grassroots advocacy that resulted in the Social Security Fairness Act's passage in the final moments of the 2024 congressional session. This is a must-listen for the many ATPE members who have written letters and emails, made phone calls, and even visited Washington, D.C., to advocate for repeal.

Understanding parental access to a child's education in Texas is essential for public educators as it shapes how you engage with families and navigate the legal landscape surrounding education. Although parental involvement is encouraged, educators should be aware of important legal limitations and protocols regarding access to records and classroom visitation. Parents have a fundamental right to access their children's educational records, which include grades, assessments, and disciplinary records. This right is guaranteed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, parents can review and request copies of their child's records, ensuring they stay informed about their child's academic progress and any concerns that may arise. With this in mind, it is important that educators understand that everything they communicate through email, in reports, in evaluations, in referrals, and perhaps even in text messages with other staff, can very likely be reviewed by the parent. So how can educators protect themselves, and what are the legal limits to what records parents can access? Additionally, parents may be allowed to observe a classroom, but they don't have the legal right to do so, and the school district may set parameters. But what happens when parental visits become disruptive to your classroom? And do stepparents and grandparents also have access? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Martha Moring explains what you should know about Texas parents' rights to access their children's education, including the limitations, confidentiality of records, and classroom visitation.   The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

Whether you're a teacher, an administrator, a student, or a parent, your voice matters, and this upcoming election is not just about picking a new president; it's also about making decisions that affect our education system, funding for schools, teacher salaries, and essential programs. While Texas educators help to shape the future of Texas, our elected officials, primarily the Legislature, help to shape the present and future of the Texas education system. The policies and budget that lawmakers pass affect almost every part of the school system, and districts all over the state need more resources to serve student populations, fund essential programs, and provide better benefits and pay for teachers. History tells us that a large turnout in voting among parents and educators in a pro-public education fashion can make a huge impact on education policy in Texas. After a rough 2017 legislative session for public education, the 2018 election saw a huge turnout among educators and public education allies. This show of force set up a much more successful legislative session in 2019, when lawmakers passed a historic school finance bill as part of an $11.6 billion school finance measure. So how can you make sure you're registered to vote in the county where you live? And how can you as an educator and voter identify candidates who prioritize public education issues? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter discusses the importance of registering to vote and showing up to the polls in the November general election.

It came as no surprise that the voucher conversation dominated the last legislative session, and as such much of our communications to members over that time frame was dedicated to fighting that battle. In addition to the long regular session, the entirety of the summer and fall felt like all vouchers all the time. At the end of the day, we were able to hold off vouchers, and that's certainly a positive. Since then, unfortunately, the voucher issue has anything but subsided. Although passing vouchers has become Governor Abbot's primary, if not only, education policy goal, it is certainly not the only concern out there for public educators. There is no denying the teaching profession has become embroiled within culture wars in a way that it has never been before. However, many of these false flag issues that have created so much controversy are being ginned up for no other reason than to drive a wedge in support for public education and breaking the blockade against vouchers. While the privatizers and voucher pushers continue to do their best to manufacture hate, outside the culture war trenches, there are plenty of non-voucher or voucher linked issues that public educators legitimately need to be focusing on. These issues have nothing to do with privatization, and they're real issues that need to be addressed within the public school system. So which issues are we focused on right now and what are we doing to engage the broader community for support? And outside of voting, what tools can educators use to communicate with their elected representatives, expand the public education conversation, and make their voice heard on these issues? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter explains how together we can impact Texas education policy beyond just the threat of vouchers.

As teacher recruitment and retention issues continue in districts all over Texas, the teacher preparation landscape has changed significantly in response. Many new teachers are transitioning from other careers, and we have seen numerous pathways for certification evolve to better fill growing vacancies. In turn, the rush to certify educators—and do so quickly—has created a bit of a gap between what early educators need and what they are getting. If we want new educators to succeed and see the teaching profession as a sustainable career, perhaps the answer lies less in recruiting and more in retention. As the leading educator association in Texas, ATPE advocates for teachers both at the Capitol in August and in Washington, D.C., as well as with state agencies and regulatory boards such as the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). As a founding member of the Texas Coalition for Educator Preparation (TCEP), we are working to ensure that teacher candidates coming through the pipeline are being assessed fairly across the board. Research shows that engagement with professional organizations is key for retaining quality teachers, but what exactly do new teachers want and need from an educator association? And what support and/or resources does ATPE provide to address both the changes to the teacher preparation landscape and the issue of growing vacancies across the state?  In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, three ATPE staff members who are all former educators—Engagement & Learning Specialist Andrea Hutlock, Lobbyist Tricia Cave, and Membership Specialist Dr. Cynthia Villalovos—discuss the role of professional educator associations in addressing recruitment and retention issues in Texas.

Following a disappointing Texas primary election in March, it appears the Texas House will be far less friendly to public education going forward. Some of these races have been tight, and in such a unique election season, we have seen millions of dollars poured in from out-of-state donors to spread anti-public education propaganda. Originally attracted to Texas races as voucher proponents, these non-Texans continue to run attack ad after attack ad against public education-friendly candidates on issues completely unrelated to public schools. You've heard that voter turnout is the key to getting legislators to listen and take education issues seriously, so the maxim “You must be present to win” legitimately describes our situation in the May 28 runoff election. Educators need to consistently show up at the polls not just to support our candidates but also to send a message to lawmakers that our schools and educators deserve better funding and compensation, respectively. So where can you find information on races and candidates in your area? And who can vote in which primary runoff race? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter explains the how, when, and why of voting pro-public ed in the upcoming runoff election.

You might be asking yourself, “Didn't I just vote in March?” Well, we hope the answer to that question is yes, but public education is always on the ballot, and there are two more elections in the month of May that are just as important for Texas educators. Early voting for the May 4 election runs from April 22–30, and depending on where you live, you might have a school board trustee, bond, and/or an appraisal district board election on your ballot. Bond dollars finance maintenance, new buildings, sports stadiums, technology, and more. This can be especially important for school staff, too, because you don't want to work in a building without proper air conditioning or heat. Contrary to popular belief, bond money does not pay teacher salaries, but school board trustees do make decisions regarding teacher pay, as well as approving curriculum and district policy. Some of you will also have a primary runoff election May 28, and early voting for this will run May 20–24. And in this race, many of our pro-public education legislators will need your support. With the huge impact that bond, appraisal, and school board trustee elections can have on our public schools, what more do you need to know, and what resources are available to prepare you for these elections? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE's newest lobbyist Heather Sheffield discusses the upcoming May elections—specifically, the difference between school board and bond elections and why they matter for Texas educators.

In preparation for the launch of a new online community and professional learning platform, ATPE has hired a new engagement and learning specialist to spearhead these projects and foster opportunities for ATPE members to engage with each other and take part in high-quality professional learning. Andrea Hutlock joined the ATPE team in the Marketing & Communications department in January. Many educators have struggled with making teaching a viable and successful career, and a common cause for concern—especially for teachers in rural or smaller districts—is the feeling of being siloed. Having access to a mentor or professional community that knows and understands your position is the key to finding the support you need. Additionally, without a shared definition for professional development, the amount of value that individual educators take from these sessions can vary wildly. And with the potential for disparity between what many districts offer and what teachers really need, how can ATPE look to bridge that gap? In what ways can we provide members an opportunity to supply feedback and engage with each other on this problem in a professional setting? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE's Engagement and Learning Specialist Andrea Hutlock describes her new column in ATPE News magazine, learning opportunities at the upcoming ATPE Summit, and other ATPE initiatives to rethink professional learning for educators.

The fourth special legislative session wrapped up Dec. 5 following a dramatic battle between lawmakers over Gov. Greg Abbott's private school voucher agenda. Although the Legislature did not pass a voucher program, it also did not pass any increases in school funding, including funding for teacher pay raises or funding to help with the costs of implementing the regular session's school safety bill. So, what is the likelihood Abbott will call another special session, and is there any indication another vote on voucher legislation would turn out differently? And what ever happened to the school funding bills that received so much attention during the regular legislative session? If anything is clear following the latest special session, it's that the issues we face are driven less by policy than by politics and the only way to solve a political issue is at the ballot box. With the election rapidly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to support public education by voting, engaging with your colleagues and community, and even thanking those lawmakers who helped stave off vouchers once again. In this episode, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter updates us on where we stand on vouchers and funding after the latest special session.

As the popularity of social networking has grown, so too has the potential for its misuse. As an educator, you are held to a high standard of conduct, even when you are engaging with social media platforms outside of school, and expecting teachers not to use social networking is not realistic or fair. There are many educational benefits to engaging with these platforms as well. With all the issues educators encounter in this digital space, it is important to know what social media behavior is considered appropriate and what can get you into trouble, as there can be a fine line between exercising your constitutional right to free speech and violating your district's policies. So how do educators navigate the intersection between their personal lives and their workplaces when online? Can you share your opinion about politics or district policies? And under what circumstances should an educator “friend” or “follow” their students on a personal social media account? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Jeff Kelly reveals how educators can avoid violating the law and running afoul of district policies when using social media. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

With the 88th regular legislative session ending months ago and a special session beginning soon, lawmakers continue to battle over the future of public education policy in Texas. Again, private school voucher legislation will be the focus, and the magnitude of educator engagement will likely determine the results. In the regular session, ATPE testified on a number of bills and worked with legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle to craft and pass meaningful legislation. With the help of engaged educators from all over the state, we were able to reduce accelerated instruction burdens caused by HB 4545 in the previous session with HB 1416, secure a much-needed COLA and extra check for our retirees, and end the session without a voucher. In the upcoming special session, what other education issues are we likely to see addressed? Will we see legislation concerning teacher pay and retention, school funding, or even testing reform? And if we do, what is the likelihood that we get any of those things without a voucher attached? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave previews the upcoming special session, what educators can expect, and what you can do to be involved.

In June, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 133. This new law prohibits the physical restraint of public school students by peace officers and school security personnel under certain circumstances. So what is meant by the phrase “physical restraint”? In this context, physical restraint involves an emergency situation where physical interaction is a last resort. Texas law defines “restraint” as the use of physical force or a mechanical device to significantly restrict the free movement of all or a portion of a student's body. Physical restraint is an issue that has long been discussed in the Legislature, and it has largely become an issue that focuses on concerns from the special education community. How could this new legislation affect your classroom, and how will lawmakers handle this issue moving forward?  In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain and ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter break down both the legal and legislative sides of a new law regarding the physical restraint of students in the classroom. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

What do First Amendment rights look like for educators, and how much protection do those rights provide in schools and other public forums? You'll often see statements paraphrasing court opinions that educators and students don't shed their First Amendment rights when they go to school. This may be true, but the protection the First Amendment provides isn't absolute and can depend on the situation. Teachers and other educators are almost uniquely impacted by the First Amendment because not only are they individuals, but also they are employees, and their employer is a government entity. This can complicate situations for public school employees. From the perspective of a parent or student, the educator is part of a governmental body, so the educator may also be accused of infringing on someone else's freedoms under the First Amendment. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Jeff Kelly breaks down your First Amendment rights as an educator and the limited protection the First Amendment provides. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

The penalty-free resignation deadline is the last possible date most educators can resign from employment without risk of penalty to their TEA certification. This deadline is particularly important for you when under contract in a district where you do not plan to work during the upcoming school year. For districts with a first instructional day in August, the penalty-free resignation deadline will be sometime in mid- to late June or early July. For districts on a year-round calendar, the deadline will be earlier. If you resign after that date without being released from your contract, it is considered contract abandonment, and you could face sanctions to your certification from the State Board for Educator Certification. So how do you calculate the deadline for your district? And how do you properly submit your resignation to avoid such sanctions? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Attorney Celina Leal answers all these questions and reveals what educators need to know about the deadline for contract resignation between school years. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

With the 88th Legislative Session soon coming to a close, lawmakers at the Capitol are battling over the future of public education policy. And with a historic budget surplus at their disposal, educators are hoping this will be the year the Legislature will approve a substantial across-the-board pay raise, but time is running out. Several bills have been proposed in both the Senate and the House to address the need for teacher retention, but the little compensation they offer is, of course, nowhere near enough. Rather than fund the public education system, the Legislature may also choose to defund the system by passing a voucher program. Senate Bill 8 proposes a thinly veiled voucher program known as an “education savings account” that ATPE and others in the education community have overwhelmingly opposed. Its supporters claim that this bill would eliminate standardized testing, but it would also give the appointed commissioner of education unprecedented authority to create an entirely new standardized testing system. Battles over these proposed bills are coming down to the wire this session. With deadlines for bills to be heard and voted on rapidly approaching, voucher programs and educator compensation are both on the table. Is it too late for educators to get involved and engage their representatives on these issues? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter updates us on pending legislation in the final stretch of this session and how you can still make your voice heard.

Once a year, Texas mandates that teachers receive a performance appraisal, and for most teachers, this is known as the T-TESS—short for Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). By now, you have likely received at least one required 45-minute formal T-TESS observation or a walkthrough by your appraiser with written feedback. It's important for you to familiarize yourself with the T-TESS cycle and be aware of any changes or modifications to the T-TESS rubric prior to getting evaluated. But do you have a right to file a grievance if you don't agree with the results? Where does a teacher's summative appraisal go once complete, and how can it be used? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Attorney Celina Leal answers all these questions and shares what educators need to know about the last step in the T-TESS cycle—the summative appraisal. Learn more about T-TESS at teachfortexas.org. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

Recently, Texas legislative sessions have been increasingly focused on education issues. As lawmakers debate bills that directly impact your profession and your benefits, it is more important than ever that you engage with your elected representatives on these issues. Remember, you are the experts in the field of education. No one understands classroom challenges and opportunities better than you. Your unique and valuable insights can help ensure that policies are informed by the needs and aspirations of students and teachers and that they have a positive impact on public education. So what resources do you have to educate yourself on these issues, and how can you provide your input to your elected officials and let them know how you feel? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave to explain the importance of educator voices in Texas education policy and how to engage with legislators.

In the classroom, there are times when a student's unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior compels an educator to request the student's permanent removal. The laws that govern this process were designed to protect both educators and students, but like most laws, they can be both complicated and highly dependent on circumstances. In situations regarding physical assault, drug possession, or other serious infractions, the law calls for mandatory student removal. But on what grounds can a teacher request discretionary student removal? What does this process look like, and who makes the final decision? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain shares what educators need to know about the laws and processes involved with removing students from their classrooms. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

You have likely heard rhetoric surrounding the vouchers debate, including terms such as “school choice” and “parental rights,” used to describe proposed voucher initiatives that promise families rights that they already have. The truth is that nothing in any of these bills would expand the rights of parents to choose where they send their child to school. Proponents of these bills would like to see the narrative shift to hide their actual goal of transferring money from public education coffers to the pockets of privately owned organizations. Historically, the Texas Legislature has shown bipartisan opposition to voucher programs, so why should public educators be concerned about potential voucher legislation in the current session? The answer is that these initiatives are being rebranded as—for example—a “tuition tax credit” or a “parental empowerment grant ” to coincide with current wedge issues. With the help of political rhetoric, these partisan bills are being framed as the solution to fictional problems within our public education system. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter and ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave to dissect voucher initiatives, the politics surrounding them, and what is at stake for educators this session.

Mandated reporter laws are extremely important for the health and safety of our students. These requirements apply to all educators because of their unique position to identify possible child abuse or neglect. In Texas, mandated reporters cannot delegate these duties to an administrator or counselor and failure to report within the prescribed timeframe may result in criminal and/or civil liability. So what legally constitutes abuse or neglect, and what should educators do when they find themselves in a situation where they are unsure if a child is in danger? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Celina Leal addresses the duties and legal concerns of educators as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Training/Reporting/default.asp The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

Throughout the 88th legislative session, lawmakers will determine how our state budget is spent for the next two years, and ATPE lobbyists will be working hard to shape public education policy to benefit our members and their students. As the voice of educators at the Capitol, ATPE's goal is to educate lawmakers on your priorities and support your interests. This session, we expect vouchers and privatization to be a prominent issue, and educators will need to come together with a strong, unified voice to oppose bills that would siphon money from public schools. Other concerns, such as staffing and compensation, retirement benefits, and school safety, are top of mind for Texas educators, and our lobbyists are advocating at the Capitol to make sure your voice is heard loud and clear. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter and Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins to break down the issues facing public education today and how ATPE is protecting your interests this session.

As an educator, establishing and maintaining positive student-teacher relationships is an important part of the job. Building this rapport is known to support student growth, motivation, and student learning outcomes. But sometimes these well-meaning connections can be misinterpreted or misunderstood, and perception is critical. So what does an appropriate educator-student relationship look like, and how does the Educators' Code of Ethics address the issue? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Sylvia Martinez-Haley breaks down legal concerns over student-teacher relationships and provides tips for maintaining healthy, professional boundaries. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

Who are associate members, and what are their rights and entitlements under both state and federal law? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Lance Cain answers the legal questions most frequently asked by our associate members—those public school employees who are at-will. We break down concerns regarding pay, including overtime, comp time, and district compensation plans. We dissect duties, job descriptions, assignments, and reassignments. Lance explains the nuances of state and federal laws regarding workers' comp, temporary disability, and termination without due process. We also explore the rights of associate members who find themselves under investigation and what options they have to remedy their grievances. And finally, we answer the age-old question: Are associate members entitled to lunch and other breaks? The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

The November election is right around the corner, and the time to register is now. With everything that is at stake for educators, it is so important that we make our voices heard at the polls. In Texas, there is no same-day registration, and you must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election to vote in it. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 11, so make sure that you are registered today. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 24, and Educator Voting Day lands on Thursday, Oct. 27. Learn more about the candidates at teachthevote.org and build your sample ballot at vote411.org. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Senior Lobbyist Monty Exter to tell us everything we need to know about the upcoming election. From important dates to what is at stake for public education, find out how you can support public education at the polls.

What exactly is a District of Innovation (DOI), and what does it mean for an educator to work in such districts? Since 2015, Texas school districts have been able to adopt the DOI designation in order to exempt themselves from certain legal requirements of the Texas Education Code. DOIs purport that this additional flexibility and local control allow them to better serve their students and even staff. But DOIs have opened the door to questions regarding teacher contracts and certifications. What sort of protection do educators working in DOIs have from other exemptions that could affect their schedules, class size, leave, or even appraisals? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Staff Attorney Lance Cain what the law requires of Districts of Innovation and how that designation can affect educators in those districts. The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a state agency that falls under the authority of the Texas Legislature, and the retirement benefits it provides are available to all public school employees. Social Security is a federal program providing benefits for which you may also be eligible at retirement, depending on your employment history. If you have paid into both systems, or your spouse has paid into Social Security, you need to be aware of two Social Security offsets that can reduce the benefits you receive—and how ATPE has long advocated for reform of these offsets. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Senior Lobbyist Monty Exter to explain the interaction between TRS and Social Security and provide an update on ATPE's advocacy to protect your retirement benefits through both TRS and Social Security.

Educators often contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department concerned they are victims of “targeting” by a supervisor or colleague—in other words, being bullied or harassed. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains what distinguishes illegal behavior from bad but entirely legal behavior. The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

In the final episode of a four-part series on educator contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp outlines what you can expect at the end of the school year when you are asked to sign a contract for the next school year. Important timelines apply—including deadlines that make it a good idea to go ahead and sign a contract for next year even if you're not sure you want to return to the district. The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

What's the difference between a supplemental duty and an additional duty? Are additional duties always required? And is working the concession stand a reasonable expectation for an educator? ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp answers these questions and more in the third episode of a multipart series on contracts. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

In the second episode of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the three types of educator contracts in Texas and what the renewal (and nonrenewal) process looks like for each. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

In the first of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the legal definition of contract, why the public education system relies on contracts, and why they are beneficial to both educators and school districts. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

It's been called “The Great Resignation”: a massive number of individuals who are quitting their jobs due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public education is not immune to this phenomenon. The ATPE Member Legal Services Department is receiving a high number of calls from members who have been pushed to the brink by pandemic-era problems and new legislative requirements. So before an educator calls it quits, what should they know? And what happens to your employment contract? In this third episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the differences in resignation for contract and non-contract employees and what the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) considers “good cause” to leave an educator contract in the middle of the school year. Show notes: Educator Resignations and Requests for Contract Release ATPE's Teach the Vote: SBEC adopts ATPE-backed changes to contract abandonment rules at December 2021 meeting The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.  

If you're working in a Texas public school, you're probably experiencing the effects of a pandemic-exacerbated staffing shortage. And based on the calls we're receiving from ATPE members, there's a good chance this staffing shortage is eating into your planning time. In the second episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains what the Texas Education Code requires in terms of planning time, how this area of the law has evolved through commissioner's decisions, and what teachers should consider if their supervisor asks them to spend their planning time covering a class or attending a meeting. The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

House Bill 4545 during the regular session of the 87th Legislature requires "supplemental accelerated instruction" for students who fail the STAAR test. Such students can either be assigned to a master, exemplary, or recognized teacher, or they can be provided at least 30 hours of supplemental instruction. This raises many questions for Texas educators—most notably, where are the extra 30 hours supposed to come from? ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp answers this question and more. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly and viewers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.