https://www.smu.edu/simmons/community/leadership-impact/education

https://www.kwtx.com/2025/06/06/chilton-isd-teams-place-top-10-national-barbecue-championship/

https://www.southtexasnews.com/refugio_county_press/refugio-isd-school-board-honors-coach-campbell-for-life-saving-actions/article_83a30bfc-56c7-4283-97ef-1cccd9d04b3c.html

https://www.kltv.com/2025/06/09/palestine-isd-mourning-loss-high-school-student/

Our thoughts and prayers are with Joseph's family and the Palestine school community.  

https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?e=3872833e78&u=9840866f8edade08dd6955fca&id=817c050b7b

TREA has partnered with UTEACH for several years, keep up the good work!

Check out this Non-Profit (TAG) that offers resources and opportunities to connect with other classrooms around the world.  Pass along as you see fit if it works for your teachers/students.  https://www.takeactionglobal.org/

Blake Cooper, former Executive Director with Friends of Texas Public Schools, and his wife Tammy, started a faith based non-profit in 2018 to support educators.  They send out daily devotionals to 2000 educators, and you can learn more about Educators Christian Fellowship here:

https://www.educf.org/

https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/feels-like-a-dream-chilton-isd-bbq-team-heads-to-nationals

We know there are some amazing school volunteers in our small and rural schools, and the nomination period is a fairly short one.  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTEA/bulletins/3e146e9

https://www.ttu.edu/now/posts/2025/05/school-of-veterinary-medicine-grad-aims-to-bring-specialty-care-to-lubbock-area.php

So proud of Austin Byrd for this accomplishment! He is in the first graduating classes of the TTU School of Veterinary Medicene.  He comes from an amazing family and was raised in TREA member district schools.  He must take after his mother, Marlo.  

https://newsroom.heb.com/celebrating-the-heart-of-texas-classrooms-h-e-b-awards-top-educators-statewide/

I was invited to attend the 2025 HEB Excellence in Education Awards Sunday night in Austin, and it was nothing short of amazing.  As a first time attendee, I witnessed inspiring acceptance speeches from winners, as well as the keynote address from Admiral William H. McRaven.  As one of the winners stated (and I'm paraphrasing), "these are tough times for teachers, but it's important that we keep going back into the fire and getting the job done".  

Special congratulations goes to the two TREA schools represented:  

https://mailchi.mp/uteach/april_2025?e=3872833e78

 

https://mailchi.mp/44ea89f9ffa1/dhedf-rural-stem-initiative-special-announcement-oct-2024-issue-18135650?e=228d62bca7

Remember that TREA member districts can sign up for free, just follow the directions on this link.  

https://usarec.ent.box.com/s/1ytgt4szrbn9wc72h91k4mwi7c2asoeg/file/1699330887970

I was honored to be a part of the U.S. Army Education Tour at Fort Stewart last year.  The military is a great avenue for some our rural students who want to get an education and learn valuable skills.  Respectfully, Bill.  

 Last week marked the 12th anniversary of the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion.  With the exception of a few FB posts, it went largely unnoticed.  But not by Matt Howerton of WFAA, as you can see from this piece below.  He did an amazing job and it is worth your time. 

My wife Sheryl and I lived in West at the time, and as an EMS-certified first responder, I got to the scene early.  I was also the field service agent for West ISD and other ISDs for ESC Region 12 and worked with DPS and those superintendents in getting 10 buses to the scene and setting up evacuation sites.  

https://kwhi.com/2025/04/14/burton-isd-educator-passes-away-after-medical-emergency/

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Applewhite family and entire school community of Burton this morning.  

https://messenger-news.com/2025/04/04/anonymous-family-donates-over-500000-to-crockett-isd-in-memory-of-late-son/

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTEA/bulletins/3da4128

 

https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/03/27/louise-isd-texas-chaplains-in-schools-school-counselors-bill-possible-opinion/82267799007/