Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations joins us again to discuss all things legislative. Grassroots Meetings are in full swing, where trustees join together to come up with their legislative priorities, which then become TASB's Advocacy Agenda. Mental health issues are rising to the top of a lot of priority lists for school board members across the state. We also talk about trustees' concerns over lawmakers studying how governmental entities use public funds for lobbying activities.

©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We sat down with board members and TASB directors Corinne French (Valley View ISD-Cooke County) and Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick (Dripping Springs ISD) for a conversation on women in leadership. What are some unique challenges women face in leadership and on boards? How can we encourage more women to take on leadership roles?

©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Northside ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods sat down with us to discuss leadership, accountability, equity, and advocacy. The 2018 Superintendent of the Year gives advice on how school boards and superintendents can work well together, the issues with A-F Accountability, and what public school advocates should focus on in the legislative interim.

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We sat down with Dax Gonzalez, division director for TASB Governmental Relations, after the November election to discuss the results. We also talked about the Senate's interim charges, including teacher recruitment, retention, and preparation; special education; online schools; and discipline in schools. The State Affairs Committee has a charge to ensure that trustees and staff are not improperly using district funds to advocate for candidates or ballot measures.

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Aledo ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan K. Bohn joined us during the TASA | TASB Convention in Dallas to discuss leadership, communicating with the school board, hiring, and community engagement.

Miranda Beard, former National School Boards Association president and Mississippi school board member, joined us for an interview at txEDCON19, the TASA | TASB Convention. We discussed a variety of subjects, including her advice for school board candidates and new trustees, how boards can better engage their communities, and the importance of early childhood education.

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We interviewed two different guests with two different perspectives on dyslexia. Dr. Karlyn Keller, division director of special education at TASB, shares her expertise on the subject. Addie Sassman, adjuster for TASB Risk Management Services, is a parent of two sons with dyslexia.

What exactly is dyslexia? Are there signs an educator or parent might notice? How is it funded in Texas public schools? What should trustees know about dyslexia and how it's addressed in their districts? Listen to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Don't miss Dr. Keller's article on the same subject in the May issue of Texas Lone Star magazine: https://bit.ly/2rJ6afB

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Robert S. Kaplan joined us live at the TASA | TASB Convention. The economy and education are intertwined, and he tells us the biggest strengths and weaknesses of each. How can educators prepare students for what's coming next in the economy? Kaplan discusses the importance of preK, teacher pay, and skills training. He also shares his definition of leadership and how to create a culture of employees who think like owners.

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The legislative session may be over, but the action hasn't stopped. Policymakers are busy implementing the laws passed during the last session. Dax Gonzalez of TASB Government Relations sits down with host Amanda Quraishi to discuss the status of all our favorite bills from the 86th.

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Texas has one of the highest percentages of English language learners in the country at 18%. How can we best support this population? Do schools have the resources they need to serve them? What is the difference between bilingual education and English as a second language? We chat about these questions and more with Antonio Cruz, 5th grade master teacher and former dual language teacher at San Antonio ISD, Bea Ramirez, high school ESL district specialist at Northside ISD, and Dr. Karlyn Keller, division director of TASB Special Education Solutions.

Read "Learning and Language" from the June 2019 Texas Lone Star magazine: http://bit.ly/2WE95A4

©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.