Meet ATPE’s Top Recruiter
Edinburg educator Amancio Garza, ATPE’s 2024-25 Top Recruiter, shares why he believes in ATPE, how he’s built decades of success recruiting new members, and why the Recruit & Reward program matters for everyone.
For more than four decades, Amancio Garza has been a proud ATPE member. The longtime Edinburg CISD educator and current substitute teacher has served in nearly every role possible—campus rep, local unit president, region director—and many times as ATPE’s Top Recruiter.
Garza’s approach to recruiting new members is rooted in his deep belief in what ATPE provides for educators.
“I’ve always believed ATPE provides the best protection for educators,” Garza says. “It’s like having car or home insurance. You hope you never need it, but if you do, it’s there to protect your career and your salary.”
That message resonates because Garza makes it personal. When he talks to potential members, he focuses on real-world scenarios that connect with their daily jobs.
“The first thing I ask people is if they’ve heard of ATPE,” he explains. “Then I give them examples, whether they’re a custodian, bus driver, or teacher, of how ATPE can support them if something goes wrong at work.”
Garza’s persistence and creativity set him apart. He doesn’t limit his recruiting to new-teacher orientations or official events. Instead, he carries business cards and applications everywhere, including schools, grocery stores, and even family gatherings.
“Recruiting isn’t about chasing rewards—it’s about believing in ATPE. I recruit everywhere I go because I truly believe in what ATPE provides for educators.”
Amancio Garza
Amancio Garza is a longtime Edinburg CISD educator, current substitute teacher, and ATPE’s 2024–25 Top Recruiter.
“Word of mouth is powerful,” Garza says. “The secret is simple: You have to ask. Not everyone will say yes, but if you don’t ask, they’ll never consider it.”
This consistency has helped Garza recruit dozens of new members year after year, earning him recognition as ATPE’s Top Recruiter multiple times. But he insists it’s not about the accolades or the financial incentives of the Recruit & Reward program.
“Recruiting isn’t about chasing rewards—it’s about believing in ATPE,” he says. “I recruit everywhere I go because I truly believe in what ATPE provides for educators.”
Still, he encourages other members to take advantage of the program, which provides $10 for every new member recruited, plus a $1,000 for the year’s top recruiter. New this year: Each program participant will be entered into a drawing for additional cash prizes on top of the $10 per new member. Find details here.
“Membership is the foundation of everything we do,” Garza says. “The only way we can keep ATPE strong is by growing membership, and that means each of us asking the people around us to join.”
Thanks to dedicated members like Garza, ATPE continues to thrive as Texas’ largest and most trusted educator association.
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