Greetings,

Welcome back to a new school year. I am Sue Hand, TESA President along with Pat Crawford, TESA President Elect. We will be working together and alongside the 2011 – 2012 Executive Board and Committees to offer numerous opportunities to enhance and encourage each of you throughout the year.

This past year I celebrated twenty years with Lamar CISD in Rosenberg a suburb of southwest Houston. In the nineties, one of my co-workers encouraged me to attend my first TESA SWC. At that time, our local members traveled in several vans to Austin in anticipation of a great conference. Like many of you, I can still remember feeling awestruck when I walked into the General Session at the Convention Center, the room full of TESA members, traveling in groups, dressed alike. Wow! I remember thinking how I have a connection with every person in this room because we all work in education. What a reality. What an organization.

During that same conference, I saw a huge stage up front with people finding their places and someone walking up to the microphone to welcome us. As I watched and listened to those on the stage, something stirred deep in my heart, giving me the idea that one day I might be up there helping to organize the conference and serve our members. Well, here I am welcoming you as your President. Wow!

I’ve chosen “TESA…An Ocean of Diversity” as my theme with the ocean wave as the symbol. Thirty years ago I fell in love with the Caribbean with its varying shades of aqua. One of the things I find fascinating is the intriguing ecosystem of coral reefs – how the different organisms work together for the benefit of all! I want to bring that same spirit of cooperation and collaboration to TESA.

Perhaps you’ll be the seasoned TESA member to invite your co-worker to their first conference this year. You’ll have recruited a new TESA member and who knows where that will you lead you or them in a few years. What are you waiting for? Check out our website www.tesatexas.org and mark your calendars now. I look forward to welcoming you to each of our scheduled events.

Sue Hand
TESA President