Following a disappointing Texas primary election in March, it appears the Texas House will be far less friendly to public education going forward. Some of these races have been tight, and in such a unique election season, we have seen millions of dollars poured in from out-of-state donors to spread anti-public education propaganda. Originally attracted to Texas races as voucher proponents, these non-Texans continue to run attack ad after attack ad against public education-friendly candidates on issues completely unrelated to public schools.

You’ve heard that voter turnout is the key to getting legislators to listen and take education issues seriously, so the maxim “You must be present to win” legitimately describes our situation in the May 28 runoff election. Educators need to consistently show up at the polls not just to support our candidates but also to send a message to lawmakers that our schools and educators deserve better funding and compensation, respectively.

So where can you find information on races and candidates in your area? And who can vote in which primary runoff race?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter explains the how, when, and why of voting pro-public ed in the upcoming runoff election.

You might be asking yourself, “Didn’t I just vote in March?” Well, we hope the answer to that question is yes, but public education is always on the ballot, and there are two more elections in the month of May that are just as important for Texas educators.

Early voting for the May 4 election runs from April 22–30, and depending on where you live, you might have a school board trustee, bond, and/or an appraisal district board election on your ballot.

Bond dollars finance maintenance, new buildings, sports stadiums, technology, and more. This can be especially important for school staff, too, because you don’t want to work in a building without proper air conditioning or heat. Contrary to popular belief, bond money does not pay teacher salaries, but school board trustees do make decisions regarding teacher pay, as well as approving curriculum and district policy.

Some of you will also have a primary runoff election May 28, and early voting for this will run May 20–24. And in this race, many of our pro-public education legislators will need your support.

With the huge impact that bond, appraisal, and school board trustee elections can have on our public schools, what more do you need to know, and what resources are available to prepare you for these elections?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE’s newest lobbyist Heather Sheffield discusses the upcoming May elections—specifically, the difference between school board and bond elections and why they matter for Texas educators.

In preparation for the launch of a new online community and professional learning platform, ATPE has hired a new engagement and learning specialist to spearhead these projects and foster opportunities for ATPE members to engage with each other and take part in high-quality professional learning. Andrea Hutlock joined the ATPE team in the Marketing & Communications department in January.

Many educators have struggled with making teaching a viable and successful career, and a common cause for concern—especially for teachers in rural or smaller districts—is the feeling of being siloed. Having access to a mentor or professional community that knows and understands your position is the key to finding the support you need.

Additionally, without a shared definition for professional development, the amount of value that individual educators take from these sessions can vary wildly. And with the potential for disparity between what many districts offer and what teachers really need, how can ATPE look to bridge that gap? In what ways can we provide members an opportunity to supply feedback and engage with each other on this problem in a professional setting?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE’s Engagement and Learning Specialist Andrea Hutlock describes her new column in ATPE News magazine, learning opportunities at the upcoming ATPE Summit, and other ATPE initiatives to rethink professional learning for educators.