The ATPE Podcast
by atpe
Founded by educators for educators, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) is the leading educators’ association in Texas and the largest independent educators’ association in the United States. ATPE exists to serve the needs of Texas teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and all public education employees and fights for our schools on the local, state and national levels.The ATPE philosophy is simple. We believe it takes everyone working together to improve Texas public schools. We work with all stakeholders in public education, regardless of political party or platform. We work collaboratively with all sides of any debate to find the best solution. And we represent the priorities defined by our members—working educators who are passionate about Texas public schools.
Episodes
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The Neurodivergent Educator
When we talk about neurodivergence in education, the conversation almost always focuses on the students—how to structure Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), provide sensory accommodations, or adapt lesson plans for students with ADHD, dyslexia, and learning differences. But what about the...
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A New Look at the American Revolution for Texas Students
In this episode, ATPE offers educators a fresh, revolutionary lens for the classroom. Traditional lessons on the American Revolution focus on the 13 colonies, but a vital effort in the war for independence was thriving right here in Texas. This war effort relied upon the leadership of women...
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Holocaust Education Through Personal Stories
In a follow-up to her recent conversation with Elizabeth SoRelle from the Texas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC), host Andrea Hutlock has a meaningful conversation with retired educator Claudia Loewenstein from the THGAAC Speakers Bureau, whose family history and...
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Holocaust Education and the Power of Student Connection
Join host Andrea Hutlock for a thoughtful conversation with Elizabeth SoRelle, commission educator at the Texas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC), about the importance of Holocaust education and the lasting impact meaningful classroom experiences can have on...
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Gear Up for “Maycember” with ATPE Summit Keynote Speaker Juan Bendana
The latest episode of The ATPE Podcast is now available! Join co-hosts Andrea Hutlock and Kate Johanns for a special look at the 2026 ATPE Summit, including an exclusive interview with opening keynote speaker Juan Bendana! Juan shares thought-provoking strategies for staying energized, building...
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New Year, New Goals, New Opportunities to Build Community
Join Kate and Andrea for a discussion of the "Bookish Educator Club," a loose, low-commitment effort to support reading goals, as well as a sneak preview of some exciting member benefit news. Hosted by: Kate Johanns, ATPE Marketing & Engagement Director Andrea Hutlock, ATPE Engagement & Learning...
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Time for a Reset
Just in time for winter break, The ATPE Podcast is back from its hiatus with a mid-year reset of its own: a new format! The refreshed podcast format features two co-hosts—Andrea Hutlock and Kate Johanns—as well as a shorter length, a wider variety of content, and, coming in the new year, the...
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Miscellaneous Types of Educator Leave
From jury duty to military service, educators may encounter unique situations that require time away from the classroom. But what happens if you are injured while breaking up a fight at school? Can a district require you to use personal leave when you are called for jury duty? How long can you be...
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Breaking Down the 89th Texas Legislature's Regular Session and Its Impact on Public Education
The 2025 Texas legislative session was one of the most politically charged in recent memory. With pre-election pressure and influence from outside interest groups shaping the agenda, lawmakers clashed over key education issues and long-standing policy goals. For the first time, voucher…
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Why Showing Up in Person Still Matters
What makes in-person events so valuable for educators today? In an age where virtual meetings and webinars are more accessible than ever, why should you still consider showing up in person? Whether it’s for professional development, networking, or simply feeling a deeper sense of connection…
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Understanding FMLA and Protected Leave for Educators
Have you ever wondered what it means for an educator to be "protected" while taking time off for medical or family reasons? Understanding what that entails is crucial when faced with a family emergency. This includes knowing the steps to request FMLA, eligibility requirements, the types of…
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Fact-Checking Gov. Greg Abbott on School Voucher Legislation
In his push for voucher legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott recently released a list of arguments made by public education advocates against school voucher programs. By labeling these legitimate concerns as “myths,” the governor has created a misleading narrative that can confuse voters about the true...
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Understanding Educator Leave Policies
As educators, taking time off when life requires it is a necessity. However, navigating the policies around leave can often feel overwhelming. For Texas educators, understanding the intricacies of leave types and policies is key to ensuring both your rights and responsibilities are respected. You...
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REPEAL! Victory on the WEP and GPO
On Jan. 5, President Joe Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act, the result of more than 40 years of ATPE advocacy. The law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two offsets formerly in Social Security law that unfairly reduced the...
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Parental Access to Education in Texas—What You Should Know
Understanding parental access to a child’s education in Texas is essential for public educators as it shapes how you engage with families and navigate the legal landscape surrounding education. Although parental involvement is encouraged, educators should be aware of important legal limitations…
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Power in Numbers: How Voting in the General Election Benefits Public Education
Whether you're a teacher, an administrator, a student, or a parent, your voice matters, and this upcoming election is not just about picking a new president; it’s also about making decisions that affect our education system, funding for schools, teacher salaries, and essential programs. While…
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The State of Education Policy
It came as no surprise that the voucher conversation dominated the last legislative session, and as such much of our communications to members over that time frame was dedicated to fighting that battle. In addition to the long regular session, the entirety of the summer and fall felt like all...
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Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
As teacher recruitment and retention issues continue in districts all over Texas, the teacher preparation landscape has changed significantly in response. Many new teachers are transitioning from other careers, and we have seen numerous pathways for certification evolve to better fill growing...
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Runoff Elections—You Must Be Present to Win
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…
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Upcoming School Board and Bond Elections
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…
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Rethinking Professional Learning
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....
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After Four Special Sessions, Are We Out of the Woods Yet?
The fourth special legislative session wrapped up Dec. 5 following a dramatic battle between lawmakers over Gov. Greg Abbott’s private school voucher agenda. Although the Legislature did not pass a voucher program, it also did not pass any increases in school funding, including funding for…
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Social Media Behavior for Educators
As the popularity of social networking has grown, so too has the potential for its misuse. As an educator, you are held to a high standard of conduct, even when you are engaging with social media platforms outside of school, and expecting teachers not to use social networking is not realistic or...
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Special Session Preview: The Fight Against Vouchers Is Just Getting Started
With the 88th regular legislative session ending months ago and a special session beginning soon, lawmakers continue to battle over the future of public education policy in Texas. Again, private school voucher legislation will be the focus, and the magnitude of educator engagement will likely...
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New Physical Restraint Legislation
In June, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 133. This new law prohibits the physical restraint of public school students by peace officers and school security personnel under certain circumstances. So what is meant by the phrase “physical restraint”? In this context, physical restraint...
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First Amendment Rights for Educators
What do First Amendment rights look like for educators, and how much protection do those rights provide in schools and other public forums? You’ll often see statements paraphrasing court opinions that educators and students don’t shed their First Amendment rights when they go to school. This may…
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Penalty-Free Resignation Deadline
The penalty-free resignation deadline is the last possible date most educators can resign from employment without risk of penalty to their TEA certification. This deadline is particularly important for you when under contract in a district where you do not plan to work during the upcoming school...
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Legislative Update: Vouchers, Testing, and Teacher Pay
With the 88th Legislative Session soon coming to a close, lawmakers at the Capitol are battling over the future of public education policy. And with a historic budget surplus at their disposal, educators are hoping this will be the year the Legislature will approve a substantial across-the-board...
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T-TESS Summative Evaluations
Once a year, Texas mandates that teachers receive a performance appraisal, and for most teachers, this is known as the T-TESS—short for Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). By now, you have likely received at least one required 45-minute formal T-TESS observation or a walkthrough...
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The Importance of Educator Voices
Recently, Texas legislative sessions have been increasingly focused on education issues. As lawmakers debate bills that directly impact your profession and your benefits, it is more important than ever that you engage with your elected representatives on these issues. Remember, you are the…
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Student Removal
In the classroom, there are times when a student’s unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior compels an educator to request the student’s permanent removal. The laws that govern this process were designed to protect both educators and students, but like most laws, they can be both complicated and...
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Vouchers: Why Educators Should Be Concerned
You have likely heard rhetoric surrounding the vouchers debate, including terms such as “school choice” and “parental rights,” used to describe proposed voucher initiatives that promise families rights that they already have. The truth is that nothing in any of these bills would expand the rights...
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Educators as Mandated Reporters
Mandated reporter laws are extremely important for the health and safety of our students. These requirements apply to all educators because of their unique position to identify possible child abuse or neglect. In Texas, mandated reporters cannot delegate these duties to an administrator or...
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ATPE Legislative Priorities
Throughout the 88th legislative session, lawmakers will determine how our state budget is spent for the next two years, and ATPE lobbyists will be working hard to shape public education policy to benefit our members and their students. As the voice of educators at the Capitol, ATPE’s goal is to...
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Appropriate Student-Teacher Relationships
As an educator, establishing and maintaining positive student-teacher relationships is an important part of the job. Building this rapport is known to support student growth, motivation, and student learning outcomes. But sometimes these well-meaning connections can be misinterpreted or...
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Associate Members: Know Your Rights
Who are associate members, and what are their rights and entitlements under both state and federal law? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Lance Cain answers the legal questions most frequently asked by our associate members—those public school employees who are at-will. We...
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The Upcoming Election: What You Need To Know
The November election is right around the corner, and the time to register is now. With everything that is at stake for educators, it is so important that we make our voices heard at the polls. In Texas, there is no same-day registration, and you must be registered at least 30 days prior to an...
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Districts of Innovation: What Questions Should You Ask?
What exactly is a District of Innovation (DOI), and what does it mean for an educator to work in such districts? Since 2015, Texas school districts have been able to adopt the DOI designation in order to exempt themselves from certain legal requirements of the Texas Education Code. DOIs purport...
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TRS & Social Security: How Do They Play Together?
The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a state agency that falls under the authority of the Texas Legislature, and the retirement benefits it provides are available to all public school employees. Social Security is a federal program providing benefits for which you may also be eligible at...
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It’s Not Illegal to Be a Jerk
Educators often contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department concerned they are victims of “targeting” by a supervisor or colleague—in other words, being bullied or harassed. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains what distinguishes illegal behavior…
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Texas Teacher Contract Timelines and Deadlines
In the final episode of a four-part series on educator contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp outlines what you can expect at the end of the school year when you are asked to sign a contract for the next school year. Important timelines apply—including deadlines that make it a good idea to…
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Supplemental Duties and Additional Duties and Contracts, Oh My!
What's the difference between a supplemental duty and an additional duty? Are additional duties always required? And is working the concession stand a reasonable expectation for an educator? ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp answers these questions and more in the third episode of a multipart…
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Get to Know Your Contract (Even Better)
In the second episode of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the three types of educator contracts in Texas and what the renewal (and nonrenewal) process looks like for each. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual…
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Educator Contracts 101
In the first of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the legal definition of contract, why the public education system relies on contracts, and why they are beneficial to both educators and school districts. The information provided here is for…
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The Great (Teacher) Resignation
It’s been called “The Great Resignation”: a massive number of individuals who are quitting their jobs due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public education is not immune to this phenomenon. The ATPE Member Legal Services Department is receiving a high number of calls from…
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Your Right to Planning Time
If you’re working in a Texas public school, you’re probably experiencing the effects of a pandemic-exacerbated staffing shortage. And based on the calls we’re receiving from ATPE members, there’s a good chance this staffing shortage is eating into your planning time. In the second episode of The...
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All About HB 4545
House Bill 4545 during the regular session of the 87th Legislature requires "supplemental accelerated instruction" for students who fail the STAAR test. Such students can either be assigned to a master, exemplary, or recognized teacher, or they can be provided at least 30 hours of supplemental...
About this show
Founded by educators for educators, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) is the leading educators’ association in Texas and the largest independent educators’ association in the United States. ATPE exists to serve the needs of Texas teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and all public education employees and fights for our schools on the local, state and national levels.The ATPE philosophy is simple. We believe it takes everyone working together to improve Texas public schools. We work with all stakeholders in public education, regardless of political party or platform. We work collaboratively with all sides of any debate to find the best solution. And we represent the priorities defined by our members—working educators who are passionate about Texas public schools.
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