Breathe easy, educators. You’ve made it to the halfway point. We’ve heard from many of you over the course of the first semester, and we know you’re tired. You work nearly ’round the clock to care for your students, career, and family.

Please know ATPE is here for you. My driving force each day is to ensure ATPE responds to your needs as a public educator in any way possible.

Toward that end, one step we’ve taken as an association is rethinking our vision and mission. Last spring, the ATPE Board of Directors (BOD) collaborated with staff to craft a new vision and mission statement for ATPE that better reflects the support the association provides to Texas educators. These statements were last updated in 2011, and I’m sure you’ll agree public education and in turn the needs of educators have evolved over the past eight years. So, too, has ATPE, in order to continue meeting your needs.

The modernized vision and mission statements demonstrate ATPE’s direction as an organization. As I work with the staff to implement the board’s vision, every action we take will be viewed through this lens.

Our new vision states: The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) supports the state’s largest community of educators who are dedicated to elevating public education in Texas. And our mission is this: ATPE advocates for educators and delivers affordable, high-quality products and services that give members the peace of mind needed to inspire student success.

I’m proud of the work and collaboration that led to the new vision and mission statements, and I’ve already seen leaders and staff put these statements into action.

For nearly 40 years, ATPE has supported the Texas public education community, and we are committed to enhancing and expanding that support in the years to come.

Shannon Holmes
ATPE Executive Director