Texas Trustee Institute

Everything you need to launch as a new board member!

Texas Trustee Institute offers new board members an immersive learning experience specifically designed for first-year board trustees. The Institute’s courses provide specialized training to create a successful launch into school governance for new board members seeking a strong foundational understanding of its role in improving student outcomes.  

Participants will benefit from in-person development opportunities, a networking cohort, and must-have training opportunities. In addition, new trustees can find courses, which are available for on-demand study, anytime and anywhere, in the Online Learning Center (OLC). 

A key programming component for new board members will be attending the Texas Trustee Institute at in-person events, including Summer Leadership Institute and TASA | TASB Convention. In addition to governance and student outcomes, some of the topics that will be covered during the Texas Trustee Institute include:

  • The Role of a Texas School Board Trustee 
  • Board Operating Procedures 
  • School Law 101 
  • Digital Life as a Board Member
  • Open Meetings Act
  • District Policy Basics; and 
  • Working as a Body Corporate.

In addition, members can also find the Top 10 courses packaged in the OLC. These short courses, part of the Texas Trustee Institute’s New Board Member Launch materials, provide a quick foundation on a variety of topics that are essential to board service. They are designed as core classes to build your governance knowledge base. These courses are useful for new trustees, particularly when a topic they are not familiar with appears on an upcoming agenda, such as district budgeting.

Current Top 10 course topics include: 

  • Vision and goals 
  • Budget 
  • Special education 
  • Policy 
  • School Law 
  • HR Issues 
  • School Safety 
  • Legal Student Issues 
  • College, Career, and Military Readiness 
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 

Email onlinelearning@tasb.org to let us know of other topics you would like to see included. 

Why Should I Participate in Texas Trustee Institute? 

In any new role, people often find that they “don’t know what they don’t know.” Texas Trustee Institute imparts a foundational understanding of a broad range of board member responsibilities. The immersion will make you feel more confident participating with your board as you continue to develop your knowledge and skills and are better able to comprehend the complex issues that come before the board. 

How Do I Get Started? 

Texas Trustee Institute is offered for newly elected trustees at all major TASB events. Just register for the conference most convenient to you and check the program for the session.  

Summer Leadership Institute
San Antonio, June 14-17, 2023

Summer Leadership Institute
Fort Worth, June 21-24, 2023

TASA | TASB Convention txEDCON
Dallas, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023

Who Do I Contact If I Still Have Questions About Texas Trustee Institute?

Email board.dev@tasb.org or call 512-467-0222, extension 2453.