Volunteer Spotlight: Suzanne Kujawa
The thousands of ATPE volunteers across Texas are the backbone of this association. Their hard work and dedication allow ATPE to serve the state’s largest community of educators. In this ongoing ATPE News series, we spotlight volunteers who set a great example of service for their fellow educators.
Suzanne Kujawa | Katy ATPE
Suzanne Kujawa has worked at Memorial Parkway Junior High School in Katy ISD for eight years. She also serves as one of Katy ATPE’s campus reps and was awarded ATPE’s 2023-24 Campus Rep of the Year award for local units with 1,001+ members.
Kujawa, who began volunteering with ATPE two years ago, shares how she connects with potential members on her campus.
“I engage more with the entire staff,” Kujawa says. “When I go around to share how ATPE can support and protect their teaching careers, it also helps me to create a better relationship with my peers. I do not only encourage membership, but I also take the time to get to know them and what is important to them.”
For Kujawa, an ATPE membership is vitally important to her role in the behavior program on her campus, and one significant benefit of membership is the liability insurance.*
“I work in a behavior program with students who struggle to regulate emotions,” Kujawa says. “Having liability insurance as part of my ATPE membership gives me the peace of mind that if anything happened, I would have support. It protects not only me but also my family from potential financial devastation.”
“I think keeping it small and personal helped me reach a large audience just through natural and daily conversations. I also incentivized current members to help me recruit new members. ATPE is a community, and I engaged the community on my campus to help our fellow peers.”
ATPE’s liability insurance and employment rights protection program* is one of the best recruiting points for campus reps, but there are additional benefits campus reps promote to increase recruitment. Kujawa sends weekly emails highlighting a different ATPE benefit each week. She also sends ATPE articles to staff members on hot topics and will even put up a display in the teachers’ lounge with information and candy.
“Teachers love their snacks,” Kujawa says. “Having a treat by the handouts draws them into the display. If I know of something that would benefit a particular person, I will personally share how membership can help them.”
Outside of her full-time job and volunteer work as a campus representative, Kujawa has pursued and obtained her master’s degree in administration and supervision.
“While I was working full time, I was also attending school full time,” Kujawa says. “I was perpetually tired making sure I did not let either of these obligations flounder. Even with these obligations, I was able to volunteer with ATPE to help grow our campus membership by 25%.
“Volunteering does not need to consume all your time,” Kujawa explains. “There are tons of volunteer opportunities with ATPE. Talk to your campus representative or local president to learn more about how anyone can volunteer with ATPE from the campus all the way to the state level. Or you can visit atpe.org and read more about all opportunities available.”
Instead of using a broad pitch, Kujawa’s strategy is to be warm and welcoming to potential members.
“I think keeping it small and personal helped me reach a large audience just through natural and daily conversations,” Kujawa says. “I also incentivized current members to help me recruit new members. ATPE is a community, and I engaged the community on my campus to help our fellow peers.”
*Eligibility, terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit atpe.org/protection to view important disclosures and current program details. Staff attorney services are provided separate from the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program.
Share Your Thoughts
Log in to the ATPE Online Community to communicate with educators from across Texas on this article and much more. Explore the community today!