By Alice Liles

Alice’s note: This story first appeared in my blog The Bright Lights of Muleshoe on August 12, 2019, in a slightly different form. I was pleased to be asked to talk to the new teachers about joining Texas Classroom Teachers Association, of which I was a member for nearly all of my years as a teacher. I was proud to serve the association locally as well as on the state level during my entire career as a Muleshoe teacher.

The Muleshoe chapter of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) served breakfast to MISD’s new teachers and support personnel on their second day of new teacher in-service on Friday, August 9th at the school administration building.
New teachers, support personnel, and staff enjoyed a buffet of breakfast dishes provided by members of Muleshoe CTA.

After everyone enjoyed breakfast, Superintendent R.L. Richards introduced Muleshoe CTA vice-president April Smith who then had the local members in attendance to introduce themselves and identify their campus so the new teachers would know who to contact if they had a membership question. Mrs. Smith then introduced retired MISD teacher and past TCTA state president Alice Liles who visited with the group about the advantages of joining TCTA and becoming an active member in the organization. Liles answered questions from the group and then they were all given their TCTA goody bags filled with myriad welcoming gifts from many local merchants.
Superintendent Richards then asked the group to introduce themselves and tell where they were from and their assignments with the district.
Assistant Superintendent Dani Heathington ended the breakfast by asking everyone to link hands while she prayed a blessing over the group and asked for a successful and safe school year.
The new employees remained seated for the continuation of their day of training, and the Muleshoe CTA members in attendance then had their breakfast before tidying up and going on their way.

Some of the local Muleshoe CTA members who were still on hand after the meeting included, left to right: Titia Johnson, Vice-President April Smith, President Amberli Johnson, Vickie Burch, Jodi Davis, Brianne McDonald, Samantha Anderson, Membership Chair Lora Wallace, Treasurer Angela Reyes, and past State President Alice Liles.

Texas Classroom Teachers Association is the leading teacher organization in the state of Texas, 50,000 members strong. A nonprofit, independent professional association with no labor union affiliations, TCTA represents teachers, librarians, counselors, educational assistants, and others directly involved in classroom teaching.

To read the original and slightly longer version of this story, go to www.aliceliles.com