Have You Met ATPE’s Regional Membership Specialists?
Date Posted: 5/22/2019
Did you know ATPE has eight dedicated regional membership specialists who work to support our members and volunteers in their local communities across the state of Texas? They live and work in various locations across the state and are ready to help you meet your region’s membership goals.
Regions 1 and 2
Roger Gutierrez, ATPE’s South Texas membership specialist, was an educator in Weslaco for 18 years before coming to work for ATPE. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas–Pan American and joined ATPE in 1996. He has served in various volunteer roles at the local, region, and state level. Completing his fifth year as an ATPE staff member, his favorite thing about his job is speaking to college students at various universities across South Texas and helping grow ATPE’s membership. During Roger’s spare time, you will likely find him barbecuing, spending time with his family, or hanging out with his dog Rosie.
Contact Roger at rgutierrez@atpe.org.
Regions 3 and 4
Cynthia Villalovos is ATPE’s representative for the Houston area. Cynthia started her ATPE career in 1995 as one of the founding officers of McMurry University ATPE and started her education career in Wylie ISD in Abilene in 1996. She received her master’s degree in school administration from Sul Ross State University in 2003; soon after, she moved to Houston and held a position at Chavez High School. In 2005, Cynthia became the principal at the Health Academy at Lee High School, and in 2006, she became the principal of the Health Academy at Waltrip High School. Throughout that time, Cynthia held various offices within ATPE, including serving as the Houston ATPE president from 2012–2014 and the ATPE Region 4 secretary in 2013. Cynthia is also the proud mom of one daughter, who may very well be a future volunteer leader within ATPE. Cynthia is one year away from graduating with her doctorate in education. Her dissertation is focused on the impact of novice educator attrition resulting in a fraction of teachers moving into leadership roles like department chairs, organizational committees, and community leaders with possible subsequent insufficient future leaders.
Contact Cynthia at cvillalovos@atpe.org.
Regions 5–7
Ginger Franks is from East Texas. Before becoming an ATPE regional membership specialist, Ginger was a special education teacher for 34 years in Martinsville and Woden. She was an ATPE member for 32 years and even served as the 2013-14 ATPE state president. Ginger and her husband Carl are proud grandparents of five grandbabies and spend as much time with their families as they can. Carl Franks has been in education for 28 years, and Ginger’s two sisters both worked in education for many years. Ginger has truly dedicated herself to public education through the years and continues to do so now with ATPE.
Contact Ginger at gfranks@atpe.org.
Regions 8 and 10
Charles Glover serves Region 8 and 10 and brings over 25 years of education experience to ATPE. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Dillard University and a certificate in elementary education from Tulane University. Charles has traveled the South extensively teaching and developing supplemental education programs. He first became a member with ATPE during the 2006-07 school year while teaching in Lancaster ISD. Charles and his wife Shelia are proud parents of four grown children and four grandchildren. They all enjoy spending time traveling, cooking, and eating.
Contact Charles at cglover@atpe.org
Regions 9 and 11
Diane Pokluda, ATPE’s representative for the North Texas/Fort Worth area, was a classroom teacher for 34 years before moving into her current position. During her career in education, Diane served in several ATPE leadership positions from the local to the regional level; she considers her time as ATPE’s Region 11 director to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. During her spare time, Diane enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve, who is also a dedicated ATPE member. They are also devoted Texas Rangers fans.
Contact Diane at dpokluda@atpe.org.
Region 12, 14 and 15
Mary Jane Waits serves Regions 12, 14, and 15. She came to ATPE with 23 years in education, both in the classroom and as an administrator. She holds a master’s in educational administration and a bachelor’s of business administration. Mary Jane has worked in Lampasas and Comanche. Most recently, she served as education principal at Bartlett State Jail. Mary Jane also raised two daughters while teaching, coaching cheerleaders, and taking her students to national Business Professionals of America contests, where she had multiple winners. Mary Jane enjoys traveling across Texas and meeting new ATPE members.
Regions 13 and 20
Heather Tuley is ATPE’s membership specialist for Central Texas (the Austin and San Antonio areas). Heather has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in education leadership with principal’s certification from Texas State University. Heather has been an ATPE member for 17 years. She taught elementary school for a total of 12 years in Magnolia ISD and Lake Travis ISD. When she’s not working for ATPE, Heather can be found boating or enjoying other outdoor activities in the Texas Hill Country. Heather and her husband live in Dripping Springs with their son Ryder, born in February 2015.
Contact Heather at htuley@atpe.org.
Regions 16-19
Jeff Vega serves ATPE members in West Texas and enjoys traveling and making his way through Regions 16–19. Meeting all of the wonderful educators has been a blessing for him. Prior to starting with ATPE, he worked to positively affect the lives of students and athletes. Through the vision and passion of ATPE, he now hopes to assist students by serving educators. His new mission is to inform educators of their need to continually and sincerely vote for their profession and to influence everyone to treat educators with dignity and respect. Jeff and his wife Veronica reside in Midland, and their daughter, Joenna, attends Goddard Junior High in Midland ISD.
Contact Jeff at jvega@atpe.org.
To find your region, enter your ISD name into the search bar beneath the Texas map on ATPE’s home page.
Not a member of ATPE? Join today because you deserve respect, support, and peace of mind.
Regions 1 and 2
Roger Gutierrez, ATPE’s South Texas membership specialist, was an educator in Weslaco for 18 years before coming to work for ATPE. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas–Pan American and joined ATPE in 1996. He has served in various volunteer roles at the local, region, and state level. Completing his fifth year as an ATPE staff member, his favorite thing about his job is speaking to college students at various universities across South Texas and helping grow ATPE’s membership. During Roger’s spare time, you will likely find him barbecuing, spending time with his family, or hanging out with his dog Rosie.
Contact Roger at rgutierrez@atpe.org.
Regions 3 and 4
Cynthia Villalovos is ATPE’s representative for the Houston area. Cynthia started her ATPE career in 1995 as one of the founding officers of McMurry University ATPE and started her education career in Wylie ISD in Abilene in 1996. She received her master’s degree in school administration from Sul Ross State University in 2003; soon after, she moved to Houston and held a position at Chavez High School. In 2005, Cynthia became the principal at the Health Academy at Lee High School, and in 2006, she became the principal of the Health Academy at Waltrip High School. Throughout that time, Cynthia held various offices within ATPE, including serving as the Houston ATPE president from 2012–2014 and the ATPE Region 4 secretary in 2013. Cynthia is also the proud mom of one daughter, who may very well be a future volunteer leader within ATPE. Cynthia is one year away from graduating with her doctorate in education. Her dissertation is focused on the impact of novice educator attrition resulting in a fraction of teachers moving into leadership roles like department chairs, organizational committees, and community leaders with possible subsequent insufficient future leaders.
Contact Cynthia at cvillalovos@atpe.org.
Regions 5–7
Ginger Franks is from East Texas. Before becoming an ATPE regional membership specialist, Ginger was a special education teacher for 34 years in Martinsville and Woden. She was an ATPE member for 32 years and even served as the 2013-14 ATPE state president. Ginger and her husband Carl are proud grandparents of five grandbabies and spend as much time with their families as they can. Carl Franks has been in education for 28 years, and Ginger’s two sisters both worked in education for many years. Ginger has truly dedicated herself to public education through the years and continues to do so now with ATPE.
Contact Ginger at gfranks@atpe.org.
Regions 8 and 10
Charles Glover serves Region 8 and 10 and brings over 25 years of education experience to ATPE. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Dillard University and a certificate in elementary education from Tulane University. Charles has traveled the South extensively teaching and developing supplemental education programs. He first became a member with ATPE during the 2006-07 school year while teaching in Lancaster ISD. Charles and his wife Shelia are proud parents of four grown children and four grandchildren. They all enjoy spending time traveling, cooking, and eating.
Contact Charles at cglover@atpe.org
Regions 9 and 11
Diane Pokluda, ATPE’s representative for the North Texas/Fort Worth area, was a classroom teacher for 34 years before moving into her current position. During her career in education, Diane served in several ATPE leadership positions from the local to the regional level; she considers her time as ATPE’s Region 11 director to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. During her spare time, Diane enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve, who is also a dedicated ATPE member. They are also devoted Texas Rangers fans.
Contact Diane at dpokluda@atpe.org.
Region 12, 14 and 15
Mary Jane Waits serves Regions 12, 14, and 15. She came to ATPE with 23 years in education, both in the classroom and as an administrator. She holds a master’s in educational administration and a bachelor’s of business administration. Mary Jane has worked in Lampasas and Comanche. Most recently, she served as education principal at Bartlett State Jail. Mary Jane also raised two daughters while teaching, coaching cheerleaders, and taking her students to national Business Professionals of America contests, where she had multiple winners. Mary Jane enjoys traveling across Texas and meeting new ATPE members.
Regions 13 and 20
Heather Tuley is ATPE’s membership specialist for Central Texas (the Austin and San Antonio areas). Heather has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in education leadership with principal’s certification from Texas State University. Heather has been an ATPE member for 17 years. She taught elementary school for a total of 12 years in Magnolia ISD and Lake Travis ISD. When she’s not working for ATPE, Heather can be found boating or enjoying other outdoor activities in the Texas Hill Country. Heather and her husband live in Dripping Springs with their son Ryder, born in February 2015.
Contact Heather at htuley@atpe.org.
Regions 16-19
Jeff Vega serves ATPE members in West Texas and enjoys traveling and making his way through Regions 16–19. Meeting all of the wonderful educators has been a blessing for him. Prior to starting with ATPE, he worked to positively affect the lives of students and athletes. Through the vision and passion of ATPE, he now hopes to assist students by serving educators. His new mission is to inform educators of their need to continually and sincerely vote for their profession and to influence everyone to treat educators with dignity and respect. Jeff and his wife Veronica reside in Midland, and their daughter, Joenna, attends Goddard Junior High in Midland ISD.
Contact Jeff at jvega@atpe.org.
To find your region, enter your ISD name into the search bar beneath the Texas map on ATPE’s home page.
Not a member of ATPE? Join today because you deserve respect, support, and peace of mind.