Fall Conference Welcomed Back Human Resource Support Personnel 

By Mary Ann Fitch, TASPA Events Planner
The 2006 Fall Conference kicked off with the traditional job-alike networking sessions that we have had in past years, allowing our members to discuss common concerns and to share resources, ideas, and solutions.  Over 240 Personnel secretaries, certification clerks, benefit specialists, and other interested individuals attended the TASPA Fall Conference held Sept 24-25 at the Austin Doubletree Hotel.   Decorations for the whole event centered around the “Back to School” theme, with decorative mugs, chalk boards, and other items bedecked with children and ABCs.

The attendees were treated to a Mexican buffet dinner sponsored by AESOP/Frontline Placement Technologies and Combined Computer Resources/Winocular with live music by Steel Island.  The highlight of Sunday’s events was our keynote speaker, Jan Hargrave, sponsored by Texas Teachers Alternative Certification Program.  Her speech “Let me hear your body talk" (non-verbal communication) held the audience’s attention and earned her a standing ovation at the end of her speech.  Laughter could be heard through the lobby as Jan was able to combine humor and examples of the meanings of various gestures people use to communicate non-verbally.  Pete Stewart of Aldine ISD was a fun, gracious, and talented volunteer who helped Jan show the audience different “messages” between two people—the two of them had us in stitches! The evening’s events closed with a new component of the program, SPA night, which featured free facials, foot treatments and makeovers sponsored by our vendors BeautiControl and Sallen Cie's Skin Care, as well as 5 minute chair massages.  The attendees who stayed reported that this was a fabulous addition and should be repeated annually, which we will! 

Throughout the day on Monday, the latest trends in human resource operations and logistics, best practices in personnel administration, updates on federal and state regulations, and school personnel law were covered during the 32 professional development workshop sessions presented by personnel law attorneys, experts in school district personnel topics, and presenters from various state agencies, including the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

At the second general session, Margie Horton, Manager of Benefit Accounting, and Tom Guerin, Manager of Benefit Counseling Teacher Retirement System, gave an update on the Texas Teacher Retirement System.  At the third general session, Marty De Leon, legislative counsel for the Texas Association of School Boards’ Governmental Relations Division, gave a legislative update focusing on the recent actions of the Texas Legislature.  Marty received the same warm welcome and “must have” evaluation by attendees as he did at the Summer Conference.  Thanks, Marty, for always making time for TASPA, and thanks to TASB Governmental Relations for sharing you with us!

Support personnel are now eligible to join TASPA as members, and many attendees to the Fall conference opted to join our association. For more information on becoming a member, click here.

Fall Conference photos

Viva Rogers of Motives Custom Blend Cosmetics gives a Spa Night participant a makeover

Mesquite ISD attendees Judith Eudy, Linda Allen, and Mary Perry visit with Janet Thompson of Splendora ISD

Attendees to a breakout session during the conference

Pete Stewart of Aldine ISD demonstrates lots of body language with keynote Jan Hargrave, author of the book Let Me See Your Body Talk

Marty DeLeon of TASB delivered a legislative Update at the Luncheon General Session

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