Volunteer Spotlight: Kristin Renetzky

Renetzky credits ATPE staff members, such as recently retired Membership Specialist Ginger Franks, with helping her initially navigate the roles and responsibilities of her office. However, she also began taking advantage of every opportunity ATPE offered to help build her skills and knowledge, including attending region meetings and the ATPE Summit.

“Summit was way more than I expected,” Renetzky says. “I received a wealth of information. I was blown away by all the different things that I learned about ATPE. It was a huge training experience for me.”

She also applied and was accepted to the 2025-26 cohort of Leadership ATPE. She noted the experience has helped her to develop some of her skills needed to serve as a local unit president.

“I feel like I’m a very good speaker,” she says. “I have very good communication skills, but it made me aware of things that I didn’t even realize I was missing. Leadership ATPE taught me to think about new ways to improve my communication and become a better leader moving forward because my goal is to continue to serve ATPE.”

Spreading the Word About ATPE

Renetzky recalled that even before she started serving as president, she looked forward to the opportunity to recruit new members to Conroe ATPE.  

“I’ve always been a huge recruiter, and I actually really like marketing,” she says. “So, I was very excited to take on that challenge because I just wanted to spread the word. I really wanted to get ATPE’s name out there in front of people. I want to let people know we’re here.”

Because Conroe ISD is spread over a large geographic area, Renetzky said she has worked to plan a number of in-person recruiting and social events. She added that this strategy has already yielded positive results.

“I started planning get-togethers at local restaurants just to see who would show up,” Renetzky says. “I’ve gotten members every time I’ve held an after-school event at a restaurant where we just offered appetizers and sodas. I am always asking members where their favorite restaurant is near campus because I want to continue hosting these events.”

The local unit has also worked closely with the district to create opportunities to let educators know about ATPE.

“We sponsor the breakfast at the district’s new-teacher orientation,” she says. “We provide breakfast tacos for about 800 or so new teachers. We have done that for the past several years.”

Renetzky said she is also excited about a new idea that not only raises awareness about ATPE but also gives members the opportunity to give back to the community.

“This is the second year I have created an opportunity for members to volunteer at The Woodlands Marathon,” she says. “We are the largest employer in the county, and we want the community to know about us. With my background as a PE teacher and in fitness, I have run races and volunteered at races. We had a water station last year. We put up an ATPE poster, and it was a great opportunity for us to do community service. I want to do more of that.”

Renetzky has seen steady progress toward her goal of building a stronger local unit. However, she knows there is more work to do. 

“We’ve been growing a little, but not as substantially as I would like to see yet, especially because I know what’s possible with Conroe ATPE,” she says. “It may take some time, but I’m not going anywhere.”

This article was updated after publication to reflect minor clarifications and revisions.