Texas educators gathered at the Holdsworth Center in Austin and online Wednesday for The Texas Tribune’s “What Makes a Great School?” symposium, a daylong conversation focused on the realities facing public schools and the policies shaping classrooms across Texas. The event brought together teachers, school leaders, policy makers, and education stakeholders to discuss topics including the relationship between legislative changes and what happens in the classroom, the impact of technology, school safety and support resources, and how to effectively advocate as an educator. ATPE sponsored the event, and ATPE members can be proud of the strong ATPE voices represented throughout the day’s programming, bringing invaluable classroom perspectives and policy expertise to the discussion.

If you were unable to join the event live, there will still be an opportunity to participate. Through ATPE’s partnership with The Texas Tribune, a recording of the event will be made available through the ATPE Professional Learning Portal in the coming weeks. Educators who watch the event recording through the portal will be eligible to earn up to four hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Stay tuned for further details.

ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave and Round Rock ATPE member Christine Mihealsick, the 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year, participated in the first panel of the day, Recent Changes to Education Policy and What They Mean in the Classroom, which examined recent changes to Texas education policy and what those changes mean for classrooms. The discussion explored how recent legislation has affected teaching, curriculum, accountability, and educator experiences in schools, with a focus on helping educators better understand the connection between policy discussions and day-to-day classroom realities.

Former Region 13 ATPE Director Stephanie Stoebe, also a Round Rock ATPE member, participated in the panel When School Is a Safety Net: The Job Beyond the Job. This discussion focused on the increasingly broad roles schools are asked to fill as educators and campuses work to support students’ academic, social, and family needs.

Region 10 ATPE Dani Boepple, a Mesquite ATPE member, took part in The Role of Tech in the Classroom, a discussion centered on balancing instructional technology with effective teaching practices and examining how technology can best support student learning.

Throughout the day, a common theme emerged: educator voices matter. Whether discussing classroom technology, student supports, policy implementation, or how to be an advocate, panelists emphasized that meaningful conversations about improving schools must include the educators who are doing the work every day. The importance of educators using their voices to advocate with their elected officials was stressed multiple times throughout the day, including by the final panel, which consisted of elected officials Rep. Donna Howard (D–Austin), State Board of Education member Tom Maynard (R–Florence), and recently appointed State Board for Educator Certification member JoMeka Gray.