54th Annual Convention
The 54th Annual TSTA-SP State Convention will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark on March 26-28, 2010. The Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark is located at 4140 Governor's Row, Austin, Texas 78744. more

54rd Annual Convention
The 54th Annual TSTA-SP State Convention will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark on March 26-28, 2010. The Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark is located at 4140 Governor's Row, Austin, Texas 78744.

Mini-Grants Offered for TSTA-SP Organizing Efforts
TSTA is now offering TSTA Student Program Mini-Grants to our student members in Texas. The purpose of these grants are to provide funding to TSTA student chapters for new and ongoing organizing efforts that will help to further build the strength of the TSTA Student Program at your local college or university. more

TSTA-SP Team Helps Transform School
This year, as part of the NEA Student Program Conference, more than 350 student members, active teachers, education support professionals, and retired educators band together to renovate a local school as part of the NEA Student Program's "Outreach to Teach". This year, on June 27, the team transformed Blaboa Elementary School in San Diego, California,  inside and out by cleaning, painting, landscaping, and creating bulletin boards, among other tasks. The school is located in San Diego, California, and educates approximately 500 students.  TSTA-SP members participating in the Outreach to Teach program includes Chris Padron, TSTA-SP President; Angela Hammonds, TSTA-SP Vice-President; Nicole Smith, TSTA-SP Secretary; Jenny Huang, Sam Houston State University; Erika Perry and Louann Bowers-Thurman, University of Houston-Clear Lake; and Sandy Huddleston, Texas A & M, College Station.

2010 TSTA Leadership Academy
TSTA Student Program leaders are invited to participate in the 2010 Leadership Academy in Austin, July 23 - 24.  The Leadership Academy will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark.  Please watch this website for additional information.

As a Student Member
You have access to the vast resources of TSTA and NEA, including valuable career information and important personal contacts. Membership in TSTA-Student Program helps you make the transition from student to professional educator.

Make It Happen: A Student's Guide: What's a teacher's typical day like? What are working conditions like for teachers? You'll find answers to common questions most folks have about becoming a teacher in our publication, Make It Happen: A Student's Guide.

To Substitute, or Not to Substitute? Many new teachers are gaining valuable classroom experience as substitute teachers, while others find themselves in a pay and advancement trap. Is subbing right for you? Review this article from our Tomorrow's Teachers magazine.

A Better Beginning: NEA can help you get started. This publication, made possible by the NEA New Teacher Support Initiative, is a step-by-step guide for NEA local affiliates interested in creating support systems for new teachers. The 35-page manual includes:

• Tips for building an effective new teacher support system

• Real-life examples of effective mentoring

• Guidelines for establishing your own new teacher support program

• A toolkit with sample surveys, contracts, and mentoring program documents

www.nea.org: NEA's website is an excellent resource for information and networking with experienced teachers.

Inspiration and Motivation: The Works4Me section of NEA's website offers inspiration and classroom tips to teachers at all experience levels. Works4Me subscribers each week receive an e-mail message with two practical classroom tips submitted by the real education experts—your fellow teachers. You can also browse the Works4Me Library, an online archive of more than 400 tips offering ideas and solutions that you can use in your classroom today.

U.S. Department of Education: Survival Guide for New Teachers and What to  Expect Your First Year --both based on the reflections of award-winning teachers--are available online here.

Call 877-ASK-TSTA today to join us!

TSTA/NEA: FIGHTING FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 1880

316 West 12th Street, Austin, TX 78701 * 877-ASK-TSTA * ©2010 Texas State Teachers Association