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8Say “aye” to ATPE leadershipWhere do state officers often discover their leadership potential?On the floor of the House of DelegatesBy Kate JohannsIf you need any further convincing that inviting first-timersto ATPE events is the key to developing strong leaders,consider this: Just 10 years ago, ATPE State PresidentDavid de la Garza was sitting at the back of the House ofDelegates (HOD) as a first-time state convention attendee.In April 2000, de la Garza wasn’t yet a volunteer for his localunit, and it hadn’t been that many years since he had finallyasked the payroll office to stop deducting TSTA dues from hispaycheck. But as the 2000 HOD debated issues related to standingcommittee duties, delegate allotments and a dues increase,something clicked within de la Garza. The rank-and-file memberbecame an ATPE leader.“After it was all over and done with, I looked at the head tableand said to myself, ‘I want to do that one of these days,’” de laGarza says. “I was hooked.”De la Garza was encouraged toattend the state conventionby his ATPE mentor, longtimeNorthside (20) ATPEleader Lynda Stark. Starkhad recruited de la Garza asan ATPE member when hetransferred to Northside fromEdgewood ISD. Stark keptasking him to attend ATPEevents, and she finally gothim to attend the 20th AnnualATPE State Convention inCorpus Christi. He was immediately impressed by the atmosphereof the HOD.“Everything was smooth and in control and courteous,” de laGarza says. “I remember how organized everything was and howeveryone really listened and paid attention to what was going on.”The school year after his first HOD experience, de la Garzaswitched campuses and had the opportunity to become a campusrep. His leadership path took him to local unit treasurer, local unitpresident, region vice president and so on.De la Garza’s experience echoes that of other ATPE stateofficers, including State Past President Jerry Bonham.“I realized that I wanted to step into the role of state leadershipwhile serving as a delegate and seeing the excitement generatedat the state convention,” Bonham says. “Everyone in that room isa leader in this association, just by the sheer act of coming to theconvention. I don’t think all delegates realize that.”ATPE State Past President Connie Kilday, who, coincidentally,presided over de la Garza’s first state convention, says thatalthough the role of delegate can at first be somewhat daunting, itis ultimately empowering.“I realized early on that my voice really did count, and that we,as ATPE, really are member-owned and member-governed,” Kildaysays. “The role as a delegate helped me to understand that ifsomeone didn’t step up to speak and do the job, our future as anorganization would be threatened. It is important for us as educatorsto voice our opinions and expect to be heard if we expect forpublic education to grow and change in a positive way.”© ISTOCKPHOTO/THINKSTOCK2010; Hod photos–Erica Friloux