The Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) has announced that Alexandra Martin has stepped down from her position as executive director. In her seven years with TASPA, Martin was responsible for many noteworthy achievements, including increasing the organization’s membership to a record high, producing noteworthy regional and statewide HR conferences, representing school HR administrators before the Texas Legislature, and developing the organization’s Web Site.
TASB HR Services staff worked extensively with Martin to plan HR conferences and events and to stay up to date on issues of interest to HR administrators. Her expertise on the needs of HR administrators will be missed. “Alex was a great collaborator and a great partner to work with. TASB HR Services and TASPA have grown much closer during her tenure, which benefits our common membership base,” said Cindy Clegg, TASB HR Services director.
As TASPA searches for a new executive director, Jo Wicker, former TASB HR Services assistant director, will be the interim executive director. Since her time with TASB, Wicker has served as interim HR director in several districts and worked as an HR consultant.
The annual TASPA/TASB HR Academy will be held in Round Rock on Nov. 2–3, 2009. This event is the year’s most comprehensive, one-stop training opportunity for those who are new to human resources, aspire to join human resources, or just interested in a refresher course. Come and network with your peers, learn some basic survival skills, and discover the resources available to help you succeed. For a complete description and to register, go to our Texas School Administrators’ HR Academy Web page.
Our annual Superintendent Salary Survey deadline has been extended to Friday, Oct. 16. Our participation is down from last year so we need your data! Help us by completing your survey 
this week!
The deadline to complete the District Personnel and Stipend Survey is Friday, Oct. 23.
The first four HR Survey topics in DataCentral were sent to 389 district subscribers in early September and about 90 districts have already responded. Those who participated will be able to access data and create their own reports starting Oct. 1. Remember that you must be a subscriber to DataCentral and participate in a survey before you can access results.
The HR Advisory Group for DataCentral met in Austin on Sept. 18 and advised HR Services’ staff on the development of the next round of survey topics. The second group of surveys will be released next February and the topics are as follows:
We appreciate the members of our advisory group for their support and guidance on DataCentral: Carrie Durley, Aldine ISD; Pam Hall, Austin, ISD; Mary Hopkins, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD; Mike Briones, Corpus Christi ISD; Teresa Hull, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD; Marcia Daniels, El Paso ISD; Linda Bass, Frisco ISD; Janet Griffin, Humble ISD; Callie Hearne, HEB ISD; Lynda Haynes, Lewisville ISD; Dick Smith, North East ISD; Tamira Griffin, Plano ISD; Susan Brown, Round Rock ISD; Toni Thompson, San Antonio ISD; Sharon Roy, Tyler ISD; and Jerry Molinoski, Ysleta ISD.
Our Austin workshops have started for fall. We have both established and new offerings coming up:
To learn more about these courses and register online, see our Austin Workshops Web page .
The Houston Independent School District, The University of Texas System Institute for Public School Initiatives, and Battelle for Kids will host the second annual Differentiated Compensation in Education Symposium on Nov. 9–10, 2009, at the Marriott Houston West Loop in Houston. This day-and-a-half symposium explores critical issues, practical applications, and lessons learned with regard to differentiated compensation programs in Texas and around the nation.
Visit the Battelle for Kids Web Site for more information, to download the program, and register online. Registrants have the option of attending Nov. 9 (highlighting Texas districts), Nov. 10 (highlighting districts from across the country), or both days.
Of the 116 responses to our September QuickPoll on teacher turnover, 74 percent responded that their teacher turnover was lower this year than last year.
