Shows / The ATPE Podcast
The ATPE Podcast
Founded by educators for educators, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) is the leading educators’ association in Texas and the largest independent educators’ association in the United States. ATPE exists to serve the needs of Texas teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and all public education employees and fights for our schools on the local, state and national levels. The ATPE philosophy is simple. We believe it takes everyone working together to improve Texas public…
Episodes
- The ATPE Podcast
The Neurodivergent Educator
When we talk about neurodivergence in education, the conversation almost always focuses on the students—how to structure Individualized Education Programs…
- The ATPE Podcast
A New Look at the American Revolution for Texas Students
In this episode, ATPE offers educators a fresh, revolutionary lens for the classroom. Traditional lessons on the American Revolution focus on the 13 colonies…
- The ATPE Podcast
Holocaust Education Through Personal Stories
In a follow-up to her recent conversation with Elizabeth SoRelle from the Texas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC), host Andrea…
- The ATPE Podcast
Holocaust Education and the Power of Student Connection
Join host Andrea Hutlock for a thoughtful conversation with Elizabeth SoRelle, commission educator at the Texas Holocaust, Genocide and Antisemitism Advisory…
- The ATPE Podcast
Gear Up for “Maycember” with ATPE Summit Keynote Speaker Juan Bendana
The latest episode of The ATPE Podcast is now available! Join co-hosts Andrea Hutlock and Kate Johanns for a special look at the 2026 ATPE Summit, including an…
- The ATPE Podcast
New Year, New Goals, New Opportunities to Build Community
Join Kate and Andrea for a discussion of the "Bookish Educator Club," a loose, low-commitment effort to support reading goals, as well as a sneak preview of…
- The ATPE Podcast
Time for a Reset
Just in time for winter break, The ATPE Podcast is back from its hiatus with a mid-year reset of its own: a new format! The refreshed podcast format features…
- The ATPE Podcast
Miscellaneous Types of Educator Leave
From jury duty to military service, educators may encounter unique situations that require time away from the classroom. But what happens if you are injured…
- The ATPE Podcast
Breaking Down the 89th Texas Legislature's Regular Session and Its Impact on Public Education
The 2025 Texas legislative session was one of the most politically charged in recent memory. With pre-election pressure and influence from outside interest…
- The ATPE Podcast
Why Showing Up in Person Still Matters
What makes in-person events so valuable for educators today? In an age where virtual meetings and webinars are more accessible than ever, why should you still…
- The ATPE Podcast
Understanding FMLA and Protected Leave for Educators
Have you ever wondered what it means for an educator to be "protected" while taking time off for medical or family reasons? Understanding what that entails is…
- The ATPE Podcast
Fact-Checking Gov. Greg Abbott on School Voucher Legislation
In his push for voucher legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott recently released a list of arguments made by public education advocates against school voucher programs…
- The ATPE Podcast
Understanding Educator Leave Policies
As educators, taking time off when life requires it is a necessity. However, navigating the policies around leave can often feel overwhelming. For Texas…
- The ATPE Podcast
REPEAL! Victory on the WEP and GPO
On Jan. 5, President Joe Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act, the result of more than 40 years of ATPE advocacy. The law repeals the…
- The ATPE Podcast
Parental Access to Education in Texas—What You Should Know
Understanding parental access to a child’s education in Texas is essential for public educators as it shapes how you engage with families and navigate the…
- The ATPE Podcast
Power in Numbers: How Voting in the General Election Benefits Public Education
Whether you're a teacher, an administrator, a student, or a parent, your voice matters, and this upcoming election is not just about picking a new president…
- The ATPE Podcast
The State of Education Policy
It came as no surprise that the voucher conversation dominated the last legislative session, and as such much of our communications to members over that time…
- The ATPE Podcast
Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
As teacher recruitment and retention issues continue in districts all over Texas, the teacher preparation landscape has changed significantly in response. Many…
- The ATPE Podcast
Runoff Elections—You Must Be Present to Win
Following a disappointing Texas primary election in March, it appears the Texas House will be far less friendly to public education going forward. Some of…
- The ATPE Podcast
Upcoming School Board and Bond Elections
You might be asking yourself, “Didn’t I just vote in March?” Well, we hope the answer to that question is yes, but public education is always on the ballot…
- The ATPE Podcast
Rethinking Professional Learning
In preparation for the launch of a new online community and professional learning platform, ATPE has hired a new engagement and learning specialist to…
- The ATPE Podcast
After Four Special Sessions, Are We Out of the Woods Yet?
The fourth special legislative session wrapped up Dec. 5 following a dramatic battle between lawmakers over Gov. Greg Abbott’s private school voucher agenda…
- The ATPE Podcast
Social Media Behavior for Educators
As the popularity of social networking has grown, so too has the potential for its misuse. As an educator, you are held to a high standard of conduct, even…
- The ATPE Podcast
Special Session Preview: The Fight Against Vouchers Is Just Getting Started
With the 88th regular legislative session ending months ago and a special session beginning soon, lawmakers continue to battle over the future of public…
- The ATPE Podcast
New Physical Restraint Legislation
In June, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 133. This new law prohibits the physical restraint of public school students by peace officers and school…
- The ATPE Podcast
First Amendment Rights for Educators
What do First Amendment rights look like for educators, and how much protection do those rights provide in schools and other public forums? You’ll often see…
- The ATPE Podcast
Penalty-Free Resignation Deadline
The penalty-free resignation deadline is the last possible date most educators can resign from employment without risk of penalty to their TEA certification…
- The ATPE Podcast
Legislative Update: Vouchers, Testing, and Teacher Pay
With the 88th Legislative Session soon coming to a close, lawmakers at the Capitol are battling over the future of public education policy. And with a historic…
- The ATPE Podcast
T-TESS Summative Evaluations
Once a year, Texas mandates that teachers receive a performance appraisal, and for most teachers, this is known as the T-TESS—short for Texas Teacher…
- The ATPE Podcast
The Importance of Educator Voices
Recently, Texas legislative sessions have been increasingly focused on education issues. As lawmakers debate bills that directly impact your profession and…
- The ATPE Podcast
Student Removal
In the classroom, there are times when a student’s unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior compels an educator to request the student’s permanent removal. The…
- The ATPE Podcast
Vouchers: Why Educators Should Be Concerned
You have likely heard rhetoric surrounding the vouchers debate, including terms such as “school choice” and “parental rights,” used to describe proposed…
- The ATPE Podcast
Educators as Mandated Reporters
Mandated reporter laws are extremely important for the health and safety of our students. These requirements apply to all educators because of their unique…
- The ATPE Podcast
ATPE Legislative Priorities
Throughout the 88th legislative session, lawmakers will determine how our state budget is spent for the next two years, and ATPE lobbyists will be working hard…
- The ATPE Podcast
Appropriate Student-Teacher Relationships
As an educator, establishing and maintaining positive student-teacher relationships is an important part of the job. Building this rapport is known to support…
- The ATPE Podcast
Associate Members: Know Your Rights
Who are associate members, and what are their rights and entitlements under both state and federal law? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff…
- The ATPE Podcast
The Upcoming Election: What You Need To Know
The November election is right around the corner, and the time to register is now. With everything that is at stake for educators, it is so important that we…
- The ATPE Podcast
Districts of Innovation: What Questions Should You Ask?
What exactly is a District of Innovation (DOI), and what does it mean for an educator to work in such districts? Since 2015, Texas school districts have been…
- The ATPE Podcast
TRS & Social Security: How Do They Play Together?
The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a state agency that falls under the authority of the Texas Legislature, and the retirement benefits it provides are…
- The ATPE Podcast
It’s Not Illegal to Be a Jerk
Educators often contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department concerned they are victims of “targeting” by a supervisor or colleague—in other words, being…
- The ATPE Podcast
Texas Teacher Contract Timelines and Deadlines
In the final episode of a four-part series on educator contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp outlines what you can expect at the end of the school year…
- The ATPE Podcast
Supplemental Duties and Additional Duties and Contracts, Oh My!
What's the difference between a supplemental duty and an additional duty? Are additional duties always required? And is working the concession stand a…
- The ATPE Podcast
Get to Know Your Contract (Even Better)
In the second episode of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the three types of educator contracts in Texas and…
- The ATPE Podcast
Educator Contracts 101
In the first of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the legal definition of contract, why the public education…
- The ATPE Podcast
The Great (Teacher) Resignation
It’s been called “The Great Resignation”: a massive number of individuals who are quitting their jobs due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic…
- The ATPE Podcast
Your Right to Planning Time
If you’re working in a Texas public school, you’re probably experiencing the effects of a pandemic-exacerbated staffing shortage. And based on the calls we’re…
- The ATPE Podcast
All About HB 4545
House Bill 4545 during the regular session of the 87th Legislature requires "supplemental accelerated instruction" for students who fail the STAAR test. Such…