Organization:

The Texas Educational Support Staff Association (TESA) was organized March 3, 1951, in Houston, Texas, with sixty-eight charter members. Since the organization meeting, TESA has been affiliated with the National Association of Educational Office Professionals, and from 1952 until 1980 was affiliated with the Texas State Teacher’s Association of School Administrators.

Flowers, Colors, Emblem, Pin, Mascot, Banner, Magazine:

• Official Flower – Texas Bluebonnet.
• Colors: Blue and gold (Blue for loyalty and Gold for education.)
• Official Emblem and Pin:  In the form of a star representing the Lone State. At the bottom of the star are the letters TESA.
• Mascot: A booted and spurred cowgirl doll.
• Banner: Official emblem on a blue background, trimmed with gold.
• Magazine:The TESA Connection, published four times a year.

TESA is the only professional association for educational support personnel in public schools, educational service centers, private schools, colleges, and universities in Texas.

TESA represents all educational support staff advocating the interest of educational support personnel in all areas of education.

TESA represents all educational support staff opportunities for professional membership, professional development, and the benefits of a professional association.

Association Services and Benefits:

Four issues of The TESA Connection the official publication of TESA.

Professional development programs and consultants to provide for public schools districts, educational service centers, colleges, and universities, upon request.

The Staff Training for Effective Management (STEM) program is also available for presentation to educational personnel. Visit our web site at www.tesatexas.org for complete information about our incredible professional certification program. A list of class offerings across the state is also at your finger tip.

Scholarships are made available to educational support staff personnel pursuing continuous improvement in education.

Affiliate Services will assist local groups upon request, to organize and affiliate with TESA and NAEOP. The Affiliate Services will assign TESA members to serve as consultants to provide in-service programs for educational institutions upon request and availability of consultants.

Legislative Representation: TESA promotes legislative proposals that benefit the quality of education in Texas. TESA is an active voice in legislative issues promoting the interest of all educational support staff personal.

TESA web site at www.tesatexas.org is an up-to-date source of information with reference to what is going on in TESA.

Activities:

July 9-13, 1951, the Dallas School Secretaries Association and Southern Methodist University co-sponsored an institute for educational secretaries. One hundred secretaries attended. In 1952, another such institute was offered by SMU.

In 1954, the Texas Association of School Administrators joined TESA in requesting the University of Texas to offer a one-week work conference for educational secretaries as one of its summer courses. The first conference was held in 1955. A conference has been scheduled each year since. TESA began sponsoring their own conference in 1960.

•  Summer Work Conference: An annual conference jointly sponsored by TESA, Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the Coordinating Board of Texas Colleges and Universities, which provides sessions for personnel to participate in group discussions, seminars, and workshops that are led by experts in Texas education.
•  Fall Work Conference: TESA sponsors an annual Fall Work Conference providing the opportunity to improve skills, to share ideas and knowledge and to participate in group discussions and seminars.
• Area Workshops: One-day workshops sponsored by TESA and hosted by TESA and local affiliates to promote networking and professional growth.

TESA recommends membership in NAEOP for all members.