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TACS COMMUNIQUE’
by Barry Haenisch, Executive Director
October 20, 2015
LET’S TAKE A WALK
Over time, my wife and I have come to share our home with three dogs. You know about George, our
almost eleven year old Golden Retriever who has been with us since he was a puppy. About a year or so
after George came to live with us, Solomon, a pound puppy, was acquired to keep George company
while we worked. Then, a few years later, when our son became an apartment dweller, his little Shih Tzu,
Jack was added to our brood. While they are the very best of friends, each has his own personality.
All three of the dogs enjoy getting out of doors for neighborhood walks. However, it is on these occasional
walks that their different personalities become apparent. For instance, George and Solomon can seem to
anticipate when a walk is on the schedule. When I sit down to put my walking shoes on, both of them rush
to me, sit, hop up and rush toward the door, come back to me – all the while wagging their tails. When I
reach for their leashes, they begin to run back and forth from the front door of the house and back to me.
It is comical watching their antics. Jack, not so much. It is only when the other dogs’ leashes are on that
Jack decides that he might like to join.
Because of their different walking styles, my wife and I must both go on the family walk. Usually, I walk
George and Solomon and my wife walks Jack. Let me explain why. First, George and Solomon are big
dogs. Almost one hundred pounds each. Jack barely weighs ten pounds. His legs are so short that he
has to run to stay up with the “big boys”, that is if he wanted to stay up with them… and he doesn’t!
A walk with George and Solomon begins briskly. Both are fully engaged with the environment. They are
open to all of the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Occasionally, a plant seems to become a
magnet for their noses and we might abruptly make a forty-five degree turn to check it out. Early, both
boys seem to be in sync on the walk. Their pace is brisk but compatible. They seem to want to investigate
the same things. But as our trip wears on, George becomes focused on getting home, while Solomon
wants to venture more and more afield. With some coaxing, tugging on leashes, and a few sharp words,
the three of us arrive home together.
Jack, on the other hand, is a dawdler. He moseys from here to there. He stops to inspect. He stops to
smell. He stops to rest. A walk with Jack tests my patience! With Linda and me working together, we
somehow seem to all arrive home at about the same time.
Last week I had the opportunity to hear Commissioner Michael Williams speak to the superintendents of
Region 13. Something he said impressed me and made me think of our family’s walks. When asked what
is most missing from our educational system in Texas, he replied that he thought we did not offer our
teachers enough support - not enough classroom support and not enough support in their preparation to
become a teacher.
That is a good observation, but a tall order. As my wife and I have learned from our walks with our dogs,
providing each one the freedom to explore and benefit from the exercise without burdening the others on
the walk takes skill, luck, and resources. One must know when to jerk the leash and when to let them run;
when to “stop and smell the flowers”, and when to “put the peddle to the metal”. These same ideas hold
true when you support your teachers. We all know that the most valuable ingredient in producing students
who are well educated and ready for their next step are their teachers. TACS wishes you the best as you
strive to support your teachers, the newbies and the veterans, so that all of them become accomplished
masters of their craft. We pledge to help you attain the resources that you will need to accomplish this
lofty but necessary goal.
SPEAKING OF TEACHERS…
Last Friday evening, TASA announced the Texas Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. The
Secondary Teacher of the year is one of “ours”. Martha Saucedo, the 2016 Texas Secondary Teacher of
the Year, teaches family consumer science at Brady High School in the Brady ISD. For those who may
not know, Brady High School is a AAA school located near the geographical center of Texas.
TACS is so proud of the quality instruction that occurs in the small and mid-size school rooms of our
state. Texas teachers are exceptional, and we know that Ms. Saucedo will exemplify the special qualities
that teachers in small and mid-size schools must possess if they are to succeed. She pretty well summed
it up when she said, “I have been blessed to find a job that I want to do every day. My job is to inspire and
motivate, to be contagious in a good way.”
Congratulations and good luck Martha Saucedo, the 2016 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year!
TACS ACADEMIC CHALLENGE
Last week in a TACS Executive Committee meeting, we were given permission to expand the TACS
Academic Challenge. As you know, The Academic Challenge is a contest where students of varying
academic skills compete for scholarships. Since its beginning, the contest has generated over $1,000,000
in student scholarships. Because of its format and scholarship potential, the contest is growing. In fact,
the executive committee gave TACS permission to expand it to two divisions and to double the amount of
scholarships awarded. While in the past all competed in a one division format, this spring the contest has
been expanded to a Big School Division (UIL Class 6A, 5A, and 4A) and a Small School Division (UIL
Class AAA, AA, and A). Also, the scholarships awarded will double so that between $80,000 and
$100,000 in student scholarships should be awarded by the conclusion of the state contest. Additionally,
there will be fifteen area contests instead of the six that have been held in the past so that schools will not
have to travel as far to compete. The State Contest will continue to be held on the campus of the
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas.
The contest is based on the TEKS, and it is designed so that no work other than classroom instruction is
needed to successfully participate. High schools may enter from one to three teams with a $500 entry fee
required for each team entered. Each team is made up of three students.
If you are interested in more information about this opportunity to help your high school students earn
scholarships for continuing their education, please contact the Academic Challenge Director Dr. Gene
Sheets at gene.sheets@lcu.edu or me at bhaenisch@tacsnet.org.
Barry Haenisch
Executive Director