ATPE is proud to bring you this series of posts from your board members. The ATPE Board of Directors is made up of 20 regional members, who are elected by their constituents; four state officers, who are elected annually by the entire House of Delegates at the ATPE Summit; and the most recent state past president. Board members were sent questions via email, and their responses will be posted to the ATPE Blog in the order they were received. Today’s blog post is from Region 12 Director Jason Forbis.

How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at ATPE?

I got involved because a coworker asked me to go to the spring convention one year, and I went. After seeing all the workings of ATPE, I knew I wanted to be an active member. I was asked the next year to be a campus rep, and then it went from there. I started at the local level and have worked my way up the chain.

What is your favorite part of serving on the ATPE board?

I have many. One of my favorite parts of being on the BOD is the friendships I have made. I have had the opportunity to meet so many people from the great state of Texas who are as passionate about public education as I am. These relationships will be forever and I am thankful for each of them. I have also loved being able to see the inner workings of ATPE and to help shape the future of the association.

How has being on the board helped your region?

Being on the board has helped me be a better advocate for public education and has helped me become comfortable recruiting with passion. Since membership is the backbone of our association, we need to recruit. With more members, we have a bigger voice, and with that voice, we can change the perception of public education. This change will only better the kids, the teachers, and the entire state of Texas.

What advice would you give to others who might be interested in serving on the board?

Do it! If you want to develop yourself as a leader, this is a place for you. You must be willing to work, prepare, and answer the call for service when needed. Being a board member is a reward and an honor that I do not take lightly.

Can you share something fun about yourself that our members might not know?

I am a huge sports fanatic! I love to attend and watch just about any sporting event around. An ideal sports weekend for me would be watching my son play junior varsity football on Thursday night, cheering on the varsity football team and watching my son march in the high school band on Friday night, sitting down to cheer on my Baylor Bears on Saturday and my Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Needless to say, I think sports are AWESOME!!!!