Replay and Remix: 2025 ATPE Summit Highlights
Nearly 600 ATPE members showcased why ATPE is the heartbeat of Texas public education during the association’s annual summit, July 7–9 in Austin.
Fun fact: If you attend the ATPE Summit, the ATPE rhythm is going to get you.
The nearly 600 members who gathered July 7–9 in Austin for the 2025 ATPE Summit showcased why ATPE strikes a chord with more Texas educators than any other association. During three high-energy, fun-filled days, attendees:
- Fine-tuned their volunteer leadership skills;
- Amped up for the 2025-26 school year with inspiring keynotes and professional learning sessions—many presented by fellow ATPE members; and
- Celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of ATPE’s 2025 award recipients.
In addition, voting delegates elected the 2025-26 state officers, adopted the 2025 ATPE Legislative Program, and bestowed an honorary resolution upon ATPE Past State President Jayne Serna.
Read on for highlights from this incredible event, and mark your calendars for the 2026 ATPE Summit: July 7–9, 2026, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
ATPE’s annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting reflects our member-governed philosophy. During the HOD, delegates representing their local units and regions vote for ATPE’s next state officers and adopt an ATPE Legislative Program.
State Officer Election
The 45th Annual ATPE House of Delegates elected the following members to serve at ATPE’s 2025-26 state officers: President Jerrica Holt, Community; Vice President Eli Rodriguez, Cypress-Fairbanks; Secretary Teresa Millard, Woden; and Treasurer Twila Figueroa, McAllen. They join Immediate Past State President Jason Forbis, Midway (12).
Resolutions
The HOD readopted Standing Resolutions Nos. 1–13 as recommended by the Resolutions Committee and the ATPE Board of Directors. There were no current resolutions to consider, and no prefiled resolutions were adopted. The HOD also adopted an honorary resolution recognizing ATPE Past State President Jayne Serna for her service to ATPE. Visit atpe.org/hod to read the resolutions.
ATPE Legislative Program
The ATPE Legislative Program outlines the association’s legislative priorities and guides ATPE Governmental Relations in its advocacy efforts. The HOD adopted the 2025-26 ATPE Legislative Program. Visit atpe.org/leg-program to review the program.
2025 ATPE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award
Named after one of ATPE’s founding members, the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award is presented to individuals or organizations who have demonstrated superior service to public education. The 2025 recipient of the Judy Coyle Texas Liberty Award is David Pore, ATPE’s federal contract lobbyist and a partner at Hance Scarborough LLP. Pore was selected to honor his decades of advocacy leading to the January 2025 repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), two provisions in Social Security law that previously caused unfair reductions in the retirement benefits earned by public servants, including Texas public educators. Learn more about Pore’s advocacy:
Alafair Hammett Media Award
The Alafair Hammett Media Award recognizes specific works of journalism that highlight important issues in Texas public education. The award is selected by the members of the ATPE Public Information Committee, who evaluate journalistic works recommended by ATPE staff. The works are evaluated for relevancy, clarity, approach to public education policy, and ability to capture audience interest. The 2024-25 ATPE Public Information Committee reviewed five nominated articles and selected “MAGA Moms and the Republican Resistance to School Vouchers” by The Austin Chronicle’s Brant Bingamon as the recipient.
ATPE’s Top Recruiter
The 2024-25 Top Recruiter is Amancio Garza of Edinburg ATPE, who recruited 46 new members! Garza received $460 ($10 for each new member), plus $1,000 for being the state’s top recruiter as part of ATPE’s recruitment challenge. ATPE has retooled and renamed the recruitment challenge for 2025-26—it’s now the Recruit & Reward program, and the incentives are better than ever. Check out the details and start recruiting today, and your name might be listed here next year!
Doug Rogers Campus Representative of the Year
The Doug Rogers Campus Representative of the Year Awards acknowledge those special ATPE volunteers who do an incredible job connecting with fellow Texas educators about the benefits of ATPE membership. We will profile these volunteers throughout the year; read more about Campus Representative of the Year Angie McClain in our Volunteer Spotlight.
Local units/ISDs with 1–200 members:
Kathy Havens, Wortham ATPE
Finalists: Luz Mendez, Junction ATPE, and CeCe LaCoure, Navasota CISD
Local units/ISDs with 201–500 members:
Katherine Whitbeck, Nacogdoches ATPE
Finalists: Rosslon Clayton, Aldine ATPE, and Tami Richards, Beaumont ATPE
Local units/ISDs with 501–1,000 members:
Angie McClain, Waxahachie ATPE
Finalists: Christopher Johnson, Lewisville ATPE, and Jesus Garza, La Joya ATPE
Local units/ISDs with 1,001+ members:
Lena Angel, Katy ATPE
Finalists: Michelle Jeffrey, Katy ATPE, and Monesha Norris, Katy ATPE
Floyd Trimble Local Unit of the Year
The Floyd Trimble Local Unit of the Year Awards acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of outstanding local units in school districts across the state.
Local units with 1–200 members:
Ferris ATPE, Region 10
Finalists: Ballinger ATPE, Region 15, and Navasota ATPE, Region 6
Local units with 201–500 members:
Nacogdoches ATPE, Region 7
Finalists: Valley View ATPE, Region 1, and Bandera ATPE, Region 20
Local units with 501–1,000 members:
Denton ATPE, Region 11
Local units with 1,001+ members:
Katy ATPE, Region 4
Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year
The Charles Pickitt Educator of the Year Awards recognize ATPE members who go above and beyond in their respective educational fields. Read more about these educators.
Administrator of the Year:
Dr. Cheryl Tripplett, Beaumont ISD
Finalists: Claire Bray, Nacogdoches ISD, and Dr. Cynthia Gonzales, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD
Associate of the Year:
Ashlee Galvan, Corpus Christi ISD
Finalists: Walkiria Alvarez-Valdez, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, and Jennifer Skrodzki, Keller ISD
Elementary Teacher of the Year:
Melanie Gohn, Boerne ISD
Finalists: Abigal Baiza, IDEA Public Schools San Antonio, and Sonia Wolfrom, Magnolia ISD
Secondary Teacher of the Year:
Heather Kukuk, Arlington ISD
Finalists: Bobbie Weir, Richardson ISD, and Dr. Katherine Whitbeck, Nacogdoches ISD
Special Services Educator of the Year:
Miguel Renteria, Amarillo ISD
Finalists: Olga Cardoza, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, and Dedra Dennard Robertson, Katy ISD
REGIONAL ADVOCACY CHALLENGE
To encourage member engagement during the 89th Legislature, ATPE introduced a new program, the ATPE Regional Advocacy Challenge (RAC). Members were issued different challenges related to advocacy activities, including earning ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP) microcredentials, becoming a recurring donor to the ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC), and even recruiting new members as an important reminder that the more members we have, the stronger our voice at the Capitol.
Regional winners were named in three categories:
- Regions with fewer than 2,000 members: Region 14 ATPE
- Regions with 2,000–5,000 members: Region 13 ATPE
- Regions with over 5,000 members: Region 10 ATPE
In addition, individual “RAC Stars” were named for their participation:
- First place: John Milner, Bandera ATPE
- Second place: Stacey Stephens, Abilene ATPE
- Third place: Sarah Mayne, El Paso ATPE
- Most posts in the ATPE Online Community’s Rotunda advocacy community: Kristin Shelton, Round Rock ISD
- Most messages sent to lawmakers using Advocacy Central: Charles Beall, Frisco ISD
Congratulations to all ATPE members who advocated for public education during the legislative session!
ATPE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ATPE-PAC) HONOREES
Stephen F. Austin ATPE-PAC Honorees
The members below have contributed the following cumulative amounts to ATPE-PAC since July 1997.
$500
Yvonne Cadena, Magdalena Campos, Elizabeth Davis, Mary Cathrine Dorney, Christopher Douglas, Tanya Gray, Janet Godfrey, Kristie Hernandez, Cynthia Hudson, Jennifer Lorenz, Traci Morrison, Jeffery Pool, Darla Purcell, Michelle Roosa, Gloria Silva, Christina Taylor, Sonia Wolfrom, Betty Gail Wood-Rush
$1,500
Gidget Belinoski-Bailey, Patti Gibbs, Jesus Garza, Kate Johanns
$2,500
Nelson Bishop, Lynette Ginn, Darlene Kelly, Barbara Lebold, Katy Matthews, Betty McCoy, Evelyn Miles-Hoskin, Yvette Milner, Lindsay Robinson, Stephanie Stoebe, Kelley Walker
$5,000
Teresa Millard, Byron Hildebrand, Jason Forbis, Julleen Bottoms
$7,500
Ron Walcik, MaElena Ingram
ATPE-PAC Statesman Award
The ATPE-PAC Statesman Award honors ATPE members who have donated $20 or more to ATPE-PAC for 12 consecutive months. The following members reached the ATPE-PAC Statesman Award level during the most recent award year.
Susan Ambrus, Joelle Banker-Garcia, Gidget Belinoski-Bailey, Betty Berndt, Julleen Bottoms, Sherry Boyd, David de la Garza, Sharon Dixon, Twila Figueroa, Ron Fitzwater, Jason Forbis, CaRita Forte, Jesus Garza, Tanya Gray, Cynthyna Haveman, Shannon Holmes, Jerrica Holt, Cynthia Hudson, Darlene Kelly, Dale Lovett, Teresa Millard, Angela Murphy, Lynn Nutt, Deborah Pleasant, Betty Plunkett, Steve Pokluda, Michael Renteria, Lindsay Robinson, Eliseo Rodriguez, Abby Rogers, Gayle Sampley, Jayne Serna, Maria Slette, Wendy Smith, Becky Spurlock, Marsi Thomas, Ron Walcik, Katherine Whitbeck, Richard Wiggins, Erin Young
William B. Travis ATPE-PAC Honorees
This year’s William B. Travis Honorees are those members who donated $150 or more to ATPE-PAC between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024.
Michelle Adams, Susan Ambrus, Joelle Banker-Garcia, William Barton, Gidget Belinoski-Bailey, Betty Berndt, Nelson Bishop, Jerry Bonham, Julleen Bottoms, Sherry Boyd, Brenda Bryan, Gail Campos, Michele Cox, Nora Crist, Elizabeth Davis, Ona Beth Day, Jose de Anda, David de la Garza, Sharon Dixon, Twila Figueroa, Ron Fitzwater, Jason Forbis, John Fore, CaRita Forte, Emily Fortune, Ginger Franks, Jesus Garza, Cesarea Germain, Donna Gibbon, Patti Gibbs, Sharon Ginn, Tonja Gray, Tanya Gray, Karen Hames, Allyson Haveman, Byron Hildebrand, Karen Hill, Jennifer Hill, Shannon Holmes, Jerrica Holt, Mary Hopkins, Cynthia Hudson, MaElena Ingram, Kate Johanns, Amber Johnson, Courtney Jones, Darlene Kelly, Connie Kilday, Suzanne Kujawa, Heather Kukuk, Barbara Lebold, Deann Lee, Sondra Lewis, Christina Lopez, Dale Lovett, Meredith Malloy, Brenda Marlett, Shawna Mayerson, Evelyn Miles-Hoskin, Teresa Millard, Christi Mills, Yvette Milner, Maria Samantha Montano, Jennifer Moran, Angela Murphy, Shawn Mustain, Lynn Nutt, Lindsay Perry, Deborah Pleasant, Betty Plunkett, Steve Pokluda, Jeffery Pool, Abigail Ramford, Kayla Ramos, Michael Renteria, Tamara Richards, Felicia Robinson, Lindsay Robinson, Eliseo Rodriguez, Abby Rogers, Barbara Ruiz, Gayle Sampley, Susan Samson, Denise Sanders, Dennise Schuler, Jayne Serna, Fawn Simpson, Maria Slette, Shelia Slider, Wendy Smith, Leah Smith, Becky Spurlock, Tina Steiner-Johnson, Stephanie Stoebe, Cathy Stolle,
Mary Stricker, Michelle Sturm, Elizabeth Sunderland, Christina Taylor, Marsi Thomas, Karen Thompson, Eileen Walcik, Melissa Walcik, Ron Walcik, Kelley Walker, Stacey Ward, Katherine Whitbeck, Shane Whitten, Richard Wiggins, Betty Wood-Rush, Erin Young, A. Kay Young Wolfe
Davy Crockett Fundraising Challenge
This challenge was established to recognize the regions and local units that raise the most money per member for ATPE-PAC. This award covered the Aug. 1, 2023–July 31, 2024, fundraising period.
Region with Fewer than 10,000 Members:
Region 11 ATPE
2023-24 President Marianne Eckley
Region with Over 10,000 Members:
Region 10 ATPE
2023-24 President Julie Fore
Local Units with 1–200 Members:
Woden ATPE
2023-24 President Alisha Harrison
Local Units with 201–500 Members:
Boerne ATPE
2023-24 President Ona Beth Day
Local Units with 501+ Members:
Northside (20) ATPE
2023-24 President William Barton
STAFF SERVICE AWARDS
Congratulations to the following ATPE staff members honored during the summit for their combined 115 years of ATPE service.
Five Years of Service
Sheri Hill, Legal Assistant
Michael Spurlin, Marketing & Communications Specialist II
10 Years of Service
Michael Cowan, Membership Assistant
Kelly Greer, Field Program Manager
20 Years of Service
Judd Gibson, Member Legal Services Director
Jennifer Mitchell, Associate Executive Director for Member Services
Javier Ybarra, Senior Staff Accountant
25 Years of Service
Carolyn Jenkins, Accounts Receivable Specialist II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sponsors
Frost
New York Life/Insurance Specialists Inc.
Grand Canyon University
RBFCU
Exhibitors
240 Tutoring, Inc.
Inclusive Threadz
Texas Tribune
KinderCare Learning Companies
Mocan LLC
Texas Legal
Frost
New York Life/Insurance Specialists Inc.
Grand Canyon University
RBFCU
Summit Programming Committee
Alcinda Pardo, Edinburg; Michael Holton, Houston; Shannon Abernathy, Carthage; Cynthia Stouff, Red Oak; Brittney Gomez, Mesquite; Carlos Diaz, Mansfield; Tonja Gray, Abilene; Joy Barreras, Liberty Hill; Sarah Mayne, El Paso
ATPE-PAC Silent Auction Donors
Corpus Christi ATPE
Region 1 ATPE, Region 2 ATPE, Region 3 ATPE, Region 4 ATPE, Region 6 ATPE, Region 7 ATPE, Region 10 ATPE, Region 11 ATPE, Region 12 ATPE, Region 13 ATPE, Region 16 ATPE, Region 17 ATPE, Region 18 ATPE, Region 19 ATPE, Region 20 ATPE
Dani Boepple, David de la Garza, Twila Figueroa, MaElena Ingram, Teresa Millard, Alice Romero, Jayne Serna, Stephanie Stoebe, Rebeka Longoria
Educator of the Year Committee
Chair Donna Ward, Callie Dawson, Donna Franco, Sarah Mayne, Sherry Boyd, and Susan Ambrus
Leader of the Year Committee
Chair Leslie Ward, Melissa Walcik, Jeni Rubio, Jessica McHale Rutherford, Gwen Craig, Shane Whitten, and Samantha De La Cruz
Nomination/Election Committee
Chair Deann Lee, Brandon Carpenter, Sage Cavazos-Gonzalez, Dani Boepple, Kimberly Dolese, Brenda Garcia, and Amber Shipman
Resolutions Committee
Chair Betty Berndt, Kim Dolese, Melinda Marquez, Dedra Robertson, Karen Hames, Audrey Taylor, and Ron Walcik
Legislative Committee
Chair Joy Barreras, Shannon Abernathy, Maria Armendariz, Meredith Bowman, Mary Crisp, Jana Griffin, Jackie Hannebaum, Allyson Haveman, Cody Knott, Annette Lewis, Ana Ramos, Michael Renteria, Tamara Richards, Brooke Roberts, Michael Robinson, Cathy Stolle, Dustin Swatzell, Karen Thompson, Stacey Ward, and Juaquin Zavala
Membership Committee
Chair Aiesha Odutayo, Michelle Adams, Sharon Bell, Michele Cox, Tiffany Keszler, Jesus Licon, Kay Loftin, John Milner, Michelle Moseley, Amanda Moore, Roger Morton, Sabra Pittman, Tommy Reed, Cristela Rocha, Barbara Ruiz, Maria Trevino, Roberto Villanueva, Kevin Wilcox, Susan Wilson, and Belinda Wolf
Leader Development Committee
Chair Chana Jones, Shawn Bailey, Gayla Brown, Tanzania Diggs, Karen Hames, Phyllis Jarzombek, Meredith Malloy, Sarah Mayne, Traci Morrison, Michael Sweet, and J Veronica York
Public Information Committee
Chair Amanda Hendon, Kiree Bons, Denise Braun, Gail Campos, Eva Dickey, Amber Johnson, and Sandra Paez
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