ATPE’s Leadership Opportunities Boost Your Career
Date Posted: 9/12/2018
Join ATPE for the career protection and advocacy work; stay for the volunteer opportunities that help you grow as an educator and leader. ATPE members enjoy opportunities to help shape ATPE policies through volunteer roles as local, regional, and state leaders. Many members find that their career progression mirrors that of their ATPE involvement.
“I want to grow just as I’ve grown with transportation, this is what I want to be with ATPE,” explains Yolanda Salinas. Salinas has been with her district for 15 years, when she first started as a bus monitor and working with special needs kids.
“I did that for 10 years because I loved working with different kinds of kids. Every day was challenging because you didn’t know how those kids were going to act. There came a time when I said, ‘I need to move up. I need to better myself.’ After those 10 years, I became a bus driver, and I recently got a promotion to being a dispatcher.”
Salinas works long hours but is always there to greet the students with a smile. In 2017, ATPE recognized her dedication to her profession, naming her as its Associate of the Year. Salinas also makes time to volunteer for ATPE.
“I’ve seen firsthand what ATPE can do for me,” says Salinas. “And I want to help others understand that when you join ATPE, you’re not just getting legal protection and discounts and other benefits. You’re getting an opportunity to grow. I’m a member. A campus rep. An officer. And I’m really looking forward to continuing my journey with ATPE.”
What might that journey look like? From helping out on your campus to holding a statewide position, our ATPE volunteers serve in leadership roles around the state, such as:
“Everybody tells me, ‘How do you do it?’” Salinas says. “You know what I tell them? You have to love what you do because if you don’t love what you do, you’ll go crazy. We’re here for the kids.”
Not an ATPE member? Join today to take advantage of ATPE’s professional development for principals, teachers, and paraeducators.
“I want to grow just as I’ve grown with transportation, this is what I want to be with ATPE,” explains Yolanda Salinas. Salinas has been with her district for 15 years, when she first started as a bus monitor and working with special needs kids.
“I did that for 10 years because I loved working with different kinds of kids. Every day was challenging because you didn’t know how those kids were going to act. There came a time when I said, ‘I need to move up. I need to better myself.’ After those 10 years, I became a bus driver, and I recently got a promotion to being a dispatcher.”
Salinas works long hours but is always there to greet the students with a smile. In 2017, ATPE recognized her dedication to her profession, naming her as its Associate of the Year. Salinas also makes time to volunteer for ATPE.
“I’ve seen firsthand what ATPE can do for me,” says Salinas. “And I want to help others understand that when you join ATPE, you’re not just getting legal protection and discounts and other benefits. You’re getting an opportunity to grow. I’m a member. A campus rep. An officer. And I’m really looking forward to continuing my journey with ATPE.”
What might that journey look like? From helping out on your campus to holding a statewide position, our ATPE volunteers serve in leadership roles around the state, such as:
- Campus representatives, who share ATPE membership benefit information with colleagues
- State committee members, who meet in Austin to help determine ATPE’s priorities on topics ranging from membership benefits and bylaws to ATPE’s political agenda and public information
- Local unit officers, who are elected by local members and help guide local policies
- Region officers, who are elected by their region and who collaborate with fellow leaders to address common issues and goals
- Region directors, who are elected by their region and serve on the ATPE Board of Directors
- State officers, who lead quarterly board meetings and collaborate with ATPE staff to establish ATPE budgets, programs, and priorities
“Everybody tells me, ‘How do you do it?’” Salinas says. “You know what I tell them? You have to love what you do because if you don’t love what you do, you’ll go crazy. We’re here for the kids.”
Not an ATPE member? Join today to take advantage of ATPE’s professional development for principals, teachers, and paraeducators.