10Rising <strong>to</strong> the <strong>to</strong>p2009-10 award finalists are the crème de la crèmeCongratulations <strong>to</strong> the 2009-10 finalists for Local Unit <strong>of</strong> the Year, Campus Representative <strong>of</strong> the Year and the SamHous<strong>to</strong>n Award for Political Involvement. To find out who the recipients are for each award, you’ll have <strong>to</strong> attendLeader U 2010: The Choice Is Right, July 15–17 at the Austin Convention Center. Visit www.atpe.org/LeaderU for details.Local Unit <strong>of</strong> the YearfinalistsCategory: 1–500 membersBallingerThe local unit shows appreciation <strong>to</strong> membersby giving each an ATPE promo itemduring the school year.HaysHays leaders serve on various district committeesand were involved in choosinga different health insurance provider forHays CISD employees, a switch that resultedin lower rates for most staff members.HuntsvilleAfter being elected <strong>to</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice in the localunit’s first virtual election, all five Huntsville<strong>of</strong>ficers attended Leader U 2009 <strong>to</strong>prepare for the coming membership year.Category: 1,001-plus membersCypress-FairbanksIn order <strong>to</strong> best serve members in thisrapidly growing school district, local uni<strong>to</strong>fficers are assigned <strong>to</strong> clusters <strong>of</strong> schoolsand men<strong>to</strong>r the campus reps at thoselocations.Category: UniversityHous<strong>to</strong>n Baptist UniversityLocal unit members men<strong>to</strong>r middleschool students through Hous<strong>to</strong>n BaptistUniversity’s Summer Academy, a twoweekon-campus program that exposeslow-income students <strong>to</strong> higher educationopportunities.McMurry UniversityWith the assistance <strong>of</strong> Abilene ATPE andRegion 14 ATPE leaders, McMurry Universitymembers have taken an interest inpolitical involvement and encouragingfuture teachers <strong>to</strong> vote.<strong>Texas</strong> A&M University–Central <strong>Texas</strong>The local unit is the largest studen<strong>to</strong>rganization on the <strong>Texas</strong> A&M University–Central <strong>Texas</strong> campus.Campus Representative<strong>of</strong> the Year finalists1–500 membersMa Elena Ingram, McAllenJerry Jarrell, North LamarXavier Young, Nacogdoches501–1,000 membersHec<strong>to</strong>r Cruz, WeslacoDebra Folk, Willis1,001-plus membersAudra Boney, HumbleHolli Rice, Den<strong>to</strong>nStacey Ward, HumbleSam Hous<strong>to</strong>n Awardfor Political InvolvementfinalistsBarbara Jo Green, MesquiteGayle Sampley, HumbleRichard Wiggins, BoerneDen<strong>to</strong>nPlanoNorth LamarNorthside (20)In addition <strong>to</strong> supporting the ATPE Foundation’sBeth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative,the local unit gave a $300 literacygrant <strong>to</strong> the school libraries at each <strong>of</strong>Northside ISD’s four new campuses.PlanoLocal unit leaders display social-mediasavvy by regularly updating Plano ATPE’spage on Facebook, which is attracting agrowing number <strong>of</strong> fans.McMurry UniversityBallingerBoerneMesquiteNacogdoches<strong>Texas</strong> A&M University–Central <strong>Texas</strong>Huntsville WillisHumbleHaysCypress-FairbanksNorthside (20)McAllenWeslacoHous<strong>to</strong>n BaptistUniverisity
911<strong>Want</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>talk</strong> <strong>about</strong> ATPE?There’s a leader for thatIn the 30 years since ATPE was founded, much has changed (Join ATPE online! E-mail your legisla<strong>to</strong>rs!Watch leadership webinars!), but one thing hasn’t: the power <strong>of</strong> interpersonal communication.During the 2009-10 school year, the more than 5,000 ATPE members listed here dedicated themselves<strong>to</strong> making sure their colleagues knew <strong>about</strong> ATPE’s protection, advocacy and resources. Thanks<strong>to</strong> these volunteers’ efforts, more than 115,000 <strong>Texas</strong> educa<strong>to</strong>rs are ATPE members, which makesATPE the preeminent educa<strong>to</strong>rs’ association in <strong>Texas</strong>—and the largest independent educa<strong>to</strong>rs’organization in the United States. When these leaders say “I choose ATPE,” people listen.© ISTOCKPHOTO/THINKSTOCK2010; APP ICON ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAM TODD