I was invited to attend the 2025 HEB Excellence in Education Awards Sunday night in Austin, and it was nothing short of amazing.  As a first time attendee, I witnessed inspiring acceptance speeches from winners, as well as the keynote address from Admiral William H. McRaven.  As one of the winners stated (and I'm paraphrasing), "these are tough times for teachers, but it's important that we keep going back into the fire and getting the job done".  

Special congratulations goes to the two TREA schools represented:  

https://mailchi.mp/uteach/april_2025?e=3872833e78

https://mailchi.mp/44ea89f9ffa1/dhedf-rural-stem-initiative-special-announcement-oct-2024-issue-18135650?e=228d62bca7

Remember that TREA member districts can sign up for free, just follow the directions on this link.  

https://usarec.ent.box.com/s/1ytgt4szrbn9wc72h91k4mwi7c2asoeg/file/1699330887970

I was honored to be a part of the U.S. Army Education Tour at Fort Stewart last year.  The military is a great avenue for some our rural students who want to get an education and learn valuable skills.  Respectfully, Bill.  

 Last week marked the 12th anniversary of the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion.  With the exception of a few FB posts, it went largely unnoticed.  But not by Matt Howerton of WFAA, as you can see from this piece below.  He did an amazing job and it is worth your time. 

My wife Sheryl and I lived in West at the time, and as an EMS-certified first responder, I got to the scene early.  I was also the field service agent for West ISD and other ISDs for ESC Region 12 and worked with DPS and those superintendents in getting 10 buses to the scene and setting up evacuation sites.  

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTEA/bulletins/3da4128

Congratulations to these TREA Member District Superintendents for their leadership roles in the Texas Association of School Administrators.  

Des Stewart - Gainesville ISD

https://ig.utexas.edu/tsgc/k-12-education/

Please check out these resources and events available through TSGC, and pass this link/information on to your staff and others as you see fit.  

Congratulations to these High School boys basketball teams on making it to the State Game!  Winners are in bold.  

1A D2:  Jayton

Congratulations to these Girls Basketball Teams on making it to the State Game!  State champs are in bold.

1A D2:  Saltillo

https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/wylie-isd-superintendent-takes-the-wheel-as-bus-driver/

Seriously though, great job on a positive article for longtime TREA member Joey Light and Abilene Wylie ISD.  

https://www.smu.edu/simmons/community/leadership-impact/education

 Many of our TREA superintendents and leaders have participated in this program throughout the last several years, and they sometimes hear about it through other TREA leaders and our Newsletters.  Please check it out and tell other school district leaders about it as you see fit.  

https://charlesbuttfdn.org/news/highlights-2024/

Thanks for all the work this Foundation does for Public Education!

https://lemelson.mit.edu/inventeams

Thanks to our friends at DHEDF Rural STEM for letting us know about this.  Are you a TREA member district and not receiving DHEDF Newsletters?  Contact Bill Tarleton at [email protected]  

https://recf.org/vex_worlds/volunteer-vex-robotics-world-championship/-

Consider passing this information along to others in your organization or community that would be interested in volunteering for this event coming up in May.  It is very unique in that this is a World-Wide event being held in Texas this year.  Sheryl and I attended the high school finals portion 2 years ago, and it's more like attending a rock concert for robotics teams, very cool!