Every year, I walk away from our annual summit feeling revitalized by the energy of our members. I love seeing your passion—it’s clear we all care deeply about our students, our schools, and our organization.

Even though we don’t always see eye to eye on every issue, it’s important for us to remember that we have the same goals. We all want Texas public schools to succeed, we all want bright futures for our students, and we all want ATPE to flourish. The only way we can make these things happen is if we speak with one voice. Together, we are strong and powerful, and we need to make sure the Texas legislature knows it.

There’s no question that we’ve taken a beating this past year. We must keep up the fight together. Texas politician Carter Casteel once said, “We will not yield!” We should all remember those words. There will always be more work to be done.

Remember, as we move forward together this year, your ATPE board and state officers are here to serve you. If you have questions or concerns, please call me or your local board member. You elected us to serve you, and we’re thrilled to do so! Find your board member’s contact info at atpe.org/board-of-directors, and reach out to your state officers at atpe.org/Your-ATPE/About-ATPE/State-Office-Bios.

Thank you for your passion and commitment to Texas public schools! I look forward to seeing you all at the 2018 ATPE Summit in Dallas!

Carl Garner
ATPE State President

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