Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents
The Leadership | The Advocate | The Voice for Latino Learners and Leaders
The Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents is the premier organization in advocacy for the growth and advancement of Latino learners and leaders. With an unrelenting commitment to improving learning outcomes for Latino learners, TALAS provides leadership development, collective impact, advocacy, and a proactive voice for Latino and non-Latino leaders who have a passion for serving the fastest-growing student population in Texas.
Most Recent News
3.2.1. How to learn faster, what you put in the world, and the value of numerous attempts
I.
“When dreaming, imagine success.
When preparing, imagine failure.
When acting, imagine success.”
II.
“If you do not actively choose a better way, then society, culture, and the general inertia of life will push you into a worse way. The default is distraction, not improvement.”
School closures need to happen
After reports that Chicago Public Schools might need to close up to 100 schools, its board voted in September to impose a moratorium on any such discussion until at least 2027. With that decision, Chicago became the most extreme and high-profile example of a district ignoring its underenrolled schools.
But it’s not just Chicago. Over the last decade, districts have closed fewer and fewer schools. As of 2021-22, the most recent year for which national data is available, districts closed 666 schools — the lowest number in more than 20 years. (Charter school closures are also at historically low levels.)
What will happen to the Department of Education?
Fresh from their November victories, Republican lawmakers and expected appointees to the incoming Trump administration are already working to help the president achieve his campaign promise of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education.
Notable Trump surrogates Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, each promised seats on a proposed commission to eliminate government waste, have publicly endorsed the idea, while Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota filed new legislation to initiate a shutdown process before the new Congress was even seated.
Conducting difficult conversations
e spend most of our time with people who see things largely like we do. They work in similar industries, have similar educations and live in similar places. When confronted with areas of disagreement, we can usually bullshit our way through it and keep the peace. That’s how we normally go through life.
Yet difficult conversations conversations are sometimes unavoidable. There are fundamental differences in values and perspectives as well as issues surrounding identity and status that underlie and shape every professional and personal relationship. At some point these need to be addressed in order to move forward with any ability to function effectively.
Ector County awarded “District of the Year.”
In the past five years, the Texas district’s investments in staffing and high dosage tutoring are paying off.
Five years ago, Texas’ Ector County Independent School District was significantly underperforming, said Scott Muri, the district’s superintendent emeritus. Today, it’s a different story.
When Muri joined as the district’s superintendent in 2019, he said, students were “struggling academically in school,” and “all the metrics were heading in the wrong direction.” That same year, the Texas Education Agency gave Ector County ISD an F accountability rating.
But now, Ector County ISD, with about 34,000 students, is on the upswing. Signs point to significantly improved student achievement, and the district earned its first-ever B rating from TEA in 2022, the most recent year rated.
Implications of Bilingual Education
What Bilingual Education Reveals About Race in the U.S.
Looking back at her youth growing up in Douglas, Arizona — nestled up snugly against its Mexican sister city of Agua Prieta, Sonora — Laura C. Chávez-Moreno wishes she’d had the chance to partake in bilingual education classes.
She has had plenty of opportunities since then, including as a researcher who spent years sitting in on classes and interviewing students and teachers who were part of a dual language program in the Midwest.
It was structured in what some might consider the optimal way to teach language. Starting in elementary school, roughly half of the program’s students would be native Spanish speakers and the other half native English speakers. They would all buddy up while learning to speak, read and write in both languages, and they would graduate bilingual — a necessity for children whose first language was Spanish, and a prized opportunity for children whose first language was English.
Events
Executive Board Meeting
Monthly meeting for Executive Board
TALAS El Paso Winter Social
Coco Meil 1515 Lee Trevino, El Paso, TX, United StatesCalling all El Paso members and non-members! Come join us for the Holiday Mixer! Thank you to U World and Curriculum Associates for your support and sponsorship! We'd love to […]
Monthly Board Meeting (Midwinter)
Monthly Board meeting for Board of Directors
TALAS Midwinter Reception
TALAS would like to welcome you to Midwinter! Come and celebrate with us. Details to follow.
Summer Leadership Summit
El Paso, TexasMark your calendars for this incredible event! TALAS State Conference is moving to El Paso! Hope to see you there. Details are forthcoming. Visit the website for upcoming information.
TALAS Partnership Spotlight
Lexia Learning
We are thrilled to share the latest episode of the TALAS Partnership Spotlight series. Dr. Rick Fernandez is joined by guest Dr. José Viana, Senior Education Advisor at Lexia Learning. In this entertaining and very informative episode, Dr. José goes in-depth on the push for bilingualism in the U.S. and the way we need to improve if we want to achieve this goal, Dr. Rick asks all the right questions that teachers and parents are wondering, Dr. José does a fantastic job of laying out the vision Lexia Learning has and his excitement to share the new ways they will help improve the world of education.
Our Partners
Platino Sponsors
Abre
Abre is K-12’s #1 modern data solution. Developed by two educators tired of not providing their stakeholders the optimal technology experience, Abre is a true education solution that connects what matters most to students, families, staff, and community partners. Abre helps schools increase student success all while saving money and providing a better connected experience through full interoperability, tailored experiences, and data-as-a-service.
Human Architects
Professional development trains people for the expected;
Human Architecting builds people for the unexpected.
ParentSquare
ParentSquare is a unified, equitable communication platform combining district notifications, school/classroom two-way dialogue, and services including health screening, eSignatures, sign-ups, surveys, attendance, volunteering, and much more. Partners enjoy detailed oversights and an immediate, measurable spike in engagement scoring due to ease of use and state-of-the-art language translations.
ThinkCERCA
A New Approach to Critical Thought
The CERCA Framework is a scaffolded approach to literacy that helps students develop their critical thinking skills.
ThinkCERCA’s expert-designed lessons walk students through the process of analyzing content-rich texts and multimedia to construct cohesive argumentative, informational, or narrative writings.
Oro Sponsors
EF Student Tours
For over 55 years, EF has been working to keep minds and the world wide open. We design tours to help educators teach, and so students can learn more—about tolerance, other perspectives, and themselves.
Texas Education Alliance
We are an all-star team of experienced education industry governmental relations consultants, sales and marketing executives, lobbyists, policy strategists , and industry partners working together for one common goal.
Plata Sponsors
IXL
IXL is personalized learning. With a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, individualized guidance, and real-time analytics, IXL meets the unique needs of each learner.
Renaissance Learning
As a global leader in assessment, reading, and math solutions for pre-K–12 schools and districts, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success.
Bronce Sponsors
Benchmark Education
Benchmark Education Company provides students and teachers with the resources they need to become problem-solvers, decision-makers, and joyful learners.
Our mission is for every student to find lifelong inspiration, growth, and success through literacy, language, and knowledge development.
Goodside Health
As a global leader in assessment, reading, and math solutions for pre-K–12 schools and districts, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success.
Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN)
LAN is a national, full-service civil engineering firm, offering planning, engineering and program management services. We deliver creative solutions, exceptional quality and measurable value for the nation’s infrastructure. We help our clients move their unique projects from idea to execution.
PowerSchool
Bringing together the full picture of each student’s unique needs, PowerSchool helps you support every step of the K-12 learning journey.
VLK Architects
Working together with our clients and their stakeholders, we create transformative projects. We design for a lasting impact, from the educational space to commercial properties to automotive facilities.
Age of Learning
Helping Children Everywhere Build a Strong Foundation for Academic Success and a Lifelong Love of Learning
Affiliate Sponsors
Curriculum Associates
Educators are at the core of everything we do. That’s why our goal is to empower you with tools, resources, and research so you can help every learner grow to their personal best. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked with you to develop educational solutions.
Dearborn & Creggs
At Dearborn & Creggs, we care about your financial success. Which is why for 34 years our team of financial planners has helped thousands of people like you achieve their wealth goals with a personalized financial roadmap. We promise to take care of you.
Equitable Advisors
Throughout our long-standing history, we have embraced change and looked to the future, and we continue to see significant opportunities to develop new products and new ways to deliver service to our clients.
Graduation Alliance
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to education. That’s why, since its founding, Graduation Alliance has provided multiple pathways to individuals seeking to earn a high school credential.
Leon | Alcala, PLLC
Our attorneys are recognized statewide for the depth and breadth of our experience in public education and public law. Our team is responsive to the needs of local elected officials, and we are sensitive to the needs of a diverse community.
U World
We Make Really Hard
Stuff Easy to Understand
Customizable learning tools for your high-stakes exam
Become a Sponsor
Sponsorship opportunities allow TALAS to work with innovative partners who are interested in supporting the TALAS mission. Sponsors who partner with TALAS enjoy direct access to TALAS leadership teams committed to improving the educational outcomes for all students and their communities.
