Inside TSTA>Leaders

TSTA Caucuses

One of the ways TSTA members can become more involved in the Association is through a Caucus. Basically, a TSTA caucus is a group of TSTA members (or locals) that come together for one or more of a variety of reasons. Some are just for fun and networking and some have a more serious purpose, such as monitoring progress on certain issues within the Association, trying to change a policy of the Association or influencing the outcome of internal elections.

Because such Caucuses do attempt to influence internal policy and elections, the TSTA Board of Directors has established a policy (click here to read complete policy) that limits the use of TSTA resources in support of such Caucuses, and ensures equal treatment of such Caucuses. There is no limit on the number of such Caucuses, and no requirement for a Caucus to seek recognition from TSTA. However, only those Caucuses that are recognized receive access to even the limited services provided to such Caucuses.

Recognized Caucuses are entitled to a meeting room if space is available in conjunction with the TSTA House of Delegates and other statewide conferences. The space is free to the Caucus as long as there is no cost to TSTA. If requested, a staff liaison is assigned to a Caucus for the sole purpose of providing information and answering questions about the Association. The staff role is limited to those purposes, and Caucus leaders are expected to handle their own business. The TSTA Board Policy also permits us to provide an email link to a contact for recognized Caucuses if they choose.

In order to receive recognition, a Caucus must have a purpose and mission that is aligned with the Mission, Vision and Goals of TSTA, must submit a document to show this is true, must have a voting membership of at least 25 Active-Professional or Active-ESP TSTA members (in the case of Caucuses for individual members) or at least 10 Local Associations (in the case of Caucuses for Local Associations) and must submit a membership list and list of officers each year. The TSTA Board approves the list of recognized Caucuses.

Below is a list of the TSTA Recognized Caucuses for 2006-07.  All are caucuses for individual members.  For those caucuses that have provided a contact to be listed on this site, that contact is listed following the name of the Caucus.  If you would like additional information about any of those caucuses, including membership information for the caucus, please contact these individuals.

TSTA/NEA Hispanic Caucus—Rose Champion, rosechampion@earthlink.net

Republican Educator Caucus—Ginny Evans, evans.ginny@comcast.net

TSTA Democratic Caucus—Russell Bryant, TSTADemCaucus@sw.rr.com

Women’s Caucus

Black Caucus—Dolly Spencer; dspence1@houstonisd.org, dspencer2005@houston.rr.com

Asian-Pacific Islander Caucus

American Indian/Alaskan Native

ESP Caucus