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

1. VEX Robotics

 Jason McKenna of VEX Robotics will do a one-hour virtual presentation to DHEDF Rural STEM Initiative Participating School Leadership on the date and time indicated below:

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Congratulations to these TREA Member District Superintendents for their leadership roles in the Texas Association of School Administrators.  

Des Stewart - Gainesville ISD

https://ig.utexas.edu/tsgc/k-12-education/

Please check out these resources and events available through TSGC, and pass this link/information on to your staff and others as you see fit.  

Congratulations to these High School boys basketball teams on making it to the State Game!  Winners are in bold.  

1A D2:  Jayton

Congratulations to these Girls Basketball Teams on making it to the State Game!  State champs are in bold.

1A D2:  Saltillo

TREA is excited to announce a new FREE service to our member districts and their staff members.  This professional development offers many 6 hour modules in a variety of topics you can use as local credit for your PD needs.  This service is available now, and goes through May of 2026.   Please see the link below to set up your account and access the modules, free of charge.  If you have any questions, contact Bill Tarleton or Jared Bigham at [email protected]

https://learn.mycredential.com/dashboard/?invite=369d3902aeb06fac2ceecaa97825e275

https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/wylie-isd-superintendent-takes-the-wheel-as-bus-driver/

Seriously though, great job on a positive article for longtime TREA member Joey Light and Abilene Wylie ISD.  

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

 Many of our TREA superintendents and leaders have participated in this program throughout the last several years, and they sometimes hear about it through other TREA leaders and our Newsletters.  Please check it out and tell other school district leaders about it as you see fit.  

https://charlesbuttfdn.org/news/highlights-2024/

Thanks for all the work this Foundation does for Public Education!

https://lemelson.mit.edu/inventeams

Thanks to our friends at DHEDF Rural STEM for letting us know about this.  Are you a TREA member district and not receiving DHEDF Newsletters?  Contact Bill Tarleton at [email protected]