txEDCON Through the Years

For Mesquite ISD Board President Robert Seward, attending his first TASA | TASB Convention more than three decades ago as a new trustee was an enlightening experience filled with insightful training sessions, inspirational speakers, and meaningful networking opportunities.

“Looking back, that first convention was the spark that set off this amazing journey in educational leadership. It really opened my eyes to the big picture and showed me just how much we can achieve when we put our heads together and speak up for what matters,” said Seward, who served as TASB president in 2008-09.

Seward shared his first convention experience in 1993 with fellow board members and his superintendent, and he has continued to return to the annual event nearly every year since.

“Let me tell you, the TASA | TASB Convention is a big deal for us trustees and school leaders — and that’s putting it mildly! This yearly get-together is like a powerhouse of knowledge, growth, and community all rolled into one,” said Seward. “It’s where the magic happens in shaping Texas education leadership.”

“Imagine being in a room buzzing with the latest trends, policies, and best practices in education at your fingertips. It’s an opportunity to gain invaluable tools for advocating effectively for schools and students, while also enhancing your ability to govern at the local level,” he said.

Attending the event through the years allows Seward, and thousands of other trustees and superintendents, to be at the forefront of learning about educational advances and to be part of the evolution of educational leadership.

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In the 1950s, TASB and the Texas Association of School Administrators met separately, but at the same time and place, because the groups found it was beneficial for attendees to the two meetings to travel together, attend their separate events, and then discuss what they learned on the trip home. The two groups did hold a banquet together.

Prompted by then-TASB Executive Director Donald Nugent and then-TASA President Charles Mathews, the two organizations decided to take the power of learning a step further by holding a joint convention in 1960. Organizers from both groups coordinated to provide one program for all participants.

“In the opinions of the participants and planners … the experience was a success,” reported the Texas School Board Newsletter in October 1960. TASA didn’t keep an attendance record for the first event, but TASB reported that 265 trustees from 119 districts had registered.

Over the years, the convention has become the annual destination for public education leaders from around Texas who gather to network, hear from state officials and other leaders, and hone their governance and leadership skills through a range of training sessions. Now called txEDCON, the gathering is the largest assembly of state public education decision makers.

The venue alternates between Texas’ largest cities, the standout student performances vary, and the keynote speakers change, but the focus throughout the past 64 years has remained the same: provide a comprehensive learning experience designed to meet the needs of attendees who want to strengthen their governance and leadership skills as they work to provide the best education possible to their students.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by so many people devoted to public education in Texas,” said TASB Executive Director Dan Troxell. “There is this tremendous power in having us all in one place at one time, learning together and renewing our commitment to the 5.5 million Texas public school students who deserve an excellent education.”

In the Beginning

With the theme “New Frontiers in Education,” the first joint convention kicked off on Sept. 24, 1960, in Austin at the Driskill Hotel and Paramount Theater. The registration fee to the two-day event was a dollar, while the banquet fee was $3 and a luncheon cost $2.50.

The convention pamphlet noted the reasoning for the joint endeavor: “To name but a few, we face frontiers in financing education, in administering education, in improving the quality of education through the addition of programs and techniques, in meeting the challenges of a growing school population in an ever-expanding world. All of these frontiers and others pose new problems, and, in many cases, indicate the need for new solutions. It is in the hope that the 1960 Annual Meetings of the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards can help to provide a preview of the ‘New Frontiers in Education’ and a glimpse of the new decisions that we meet in Austin in September 1960.”

Some of the 11 “Topic Group Sessions” covered issues that remain relevant today, including school financing, board-superintendent relations, and the state’s role in public education. There were no exhibits.

The breakout sessions’ structure was similar to today’s, with a combination of experts in a certain field. For example, the Evaluation of School Programs session featured the Waco ISD superintendent, the dean of the College of Education at The University of Texas, a Midland ISD board member, a staff member from Andress ISD, and Richardson ISD’s superintendent.

At the keynote session, Texas State Commissioner of Education J.W. Edgar gave an address called “New Developments in Texas Public Education.” Roy M. Hall, assistant commissioner for research at the U.S. Office of Education, also spoke to the crowd.

Adding Features, Changing Venues

“That first convention set the tone for decades of successful annual events,” said Jackie Clark Spencer, director of event operations and convention for TASB Communications, Marketing, and Events. “As we continue to enhance the experience each year, we seek input from our members on what they need to help improve their skills as school leaders for the benefit of their students. It’s always about the kids.”

Austin’s new Municipal Auditorium was the site for the second convention. Of the 13 group sessions offered, three were individual forums for large, medium, and small districts. Some 1,200 participants attended, including 330 board members from 160 school districts.

“This convention provides the only opportunity for the local management officials for Texas Public Education to confer together on a statewide basis; to consider the issues and developments facing the schools; and to jointly design constructive approaches to the solution of statewide educational problems,” TASB President W.H.B. Fehl and TASA President J.D. King said in the event’s pamphlet. “We trust that those of us who do meet in Austin September 24 and 25 will return to our schools and communities with new knowledge to enable us to do a better job and new enthusiasm to make our work more challenging and productive. The boys and girls of Texas deserve the best leadership so that this goal may be reached.”

That second event was the first year for commercial exhibits, 42 in all. The next year, organizers added a Texas school architecture exhibit that included one on air-conditioned schools. Both features have continued to grow and evolve each year and are huge attractions at txEDCON.

After being held in Austin for a decade, the convention moved to San Antonio in 1971, where it was held until 1989. Beginning in 1990, the host site alternated between Houston and Dallas for many years. This year, txEDCON24 is being held in San Antonio.

Breakout sessions and special seminars have long been central convention components.

“We’re always learning, and we want that for our members too,” Spencer said. “We work on the agenda through the year, and we’re always laser-focused on understanding and meeting members’ needs. We have always sought their input, and we also get session proposals from members. We want to offer best practices – but we also want to be forward thinkers and offer next practices.”

The wide range of sessions are hosted by district leaders, TASA and TASB staff members, and other education leaders. Access to these deep-learning opportunities has been an important aspect for Teresa Flores, a longtime trustee of the Ingleside ISD board and 2017-18 TASB president.

“I have been attending the TASA | TASB Convention since 1999, which is the year that I was first elected to the board. I chose to attend to educate myself on my new role as I believe that no one is born knowing how to be a school board member, and like any other job, training is required to be able to do the best job you can,” Flores said. “My first convention was a great experience. I remember coming back excited and motivated about all the great ideas that had been presented.”

Flores attended her inaugural gathering and others since with fellow trustees, a common tradition that dates back to the first event and the why behind the gathering: Give school leaders the opportunity to learn together. In addition, net- working opportunities with other district officials abound for attendees — formally and informally.

“Networking is another component. Making friends across the state provides valuable resources when important issues are being addressed. As school boards face many challenges, there is no need to recreate the wheel,” Flores said. “More than likely, your challenge is not unique and there are others who and Rita wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. Organizers scrambled successfully to move the gathering to Dallas a month later. There wasn’t time to do a new housing reservation process, so organizers worked with vendor partners to find housing options in Dallas that closely matched those in Houston.”

They also had to work on booking vendors in the exhibit hall and helping to get their materials shipped from Houston to Dallas since booth materials were on loading docks when the event was postponed.

When COVID-19 shut down the world in 2020, the entire convention became a virtual event, even the exhibit hall. Several opportunities were provided for participants to share their successes and challenges related to the pandemic. It was an unprecedented time. As the pandemic eased, the 2021 convention went back to being held in person.

Highlighting Student Talent

Among the highlights of the convention each year are district performances that provide a unique opportunity to showcase student talent and give kids the experience of performing before a large gathering. It’s been a longstanding tradition, more than 30 years, to invite the districts of the current TASB and TASA presidents to perform at the event.

Students in supporting roles are also given the opportunity to work backstage along with audiovisual experts, so it’s not just the performers who benefit from this experience. Students have provided musical, theatrical, and dance performances, as well as artistic dis- plays. The programming decisions are up to the participating districts.

Back in 2009, when Seward was president, his district was invited to do a student performance at the convention. It’s a special memory for him.

“The highlight was undoubtedly the performance by the Mesquite ISD students. Their presentation was exceptional, truly showcasing the talent nurtured in our public schools. I remember expressing to the audience how incredibly proud we all were, not just of these performers, but of all our students across Texas,” Seward said. “These young people embodied the future of Texas public education.”

Flores had a similar emotional experience regarding her district’s student performance.

“My favorite convention would be 2018 as I completed my term serving as the president of the TASB Board of Directors. I will never forget having the opportunity to showcase my school district and represent all the great things that are happening in our public schools,” she said.

Focus on Public Education

For both newcomers and those who have been attending for years, even decades, txEDCON continues to be a vital place to focus on public education in Texas and what it means to children, their families, their communities, and the state’s future. It’s a place where attendees thrive in all things public ed.

Bret Begert, board president at Fort Elliott CISD, attended his first convention in 1998. Begert served as TASB president in 2015-16.

“I have enjoyed every convention, from the classes and sessions to Delegate Assembly to bonding with fellow trustees and public education enthusiasts. It comes at an exciting time in the beginning of the school year, and I always learn and feel like it makes me a more educated and productive board member,” Begert said. “Every student’s success is our main goal, and convention provides the training in the board’s role in the process. It is time well spent.”