Texas AFT Bridges Institute

10/20/2026

Calling all K–12 educators and teacher educators: we need your insight.
A research team at the University of Iowa is gathering perspectives on diverse books and the movement — and how these conversations are shaping classrooms right now.

The survey is anonymous and takes ~20 minutes. Your experiences can help inform future practice and policy.
Please take and share:
🔗

This study seeks to understand how the movement has influenced educators’ professional practices, text selection, and thinking about representation.

10/13/2026

Are you a National Board Candidate? We know the road to becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) is demanding, but you don't have to do it alone. The Bridges Institute offers small-group coaching, feedback, writing support, and mentors who have been through the process. Our program starts tomorrow, on Wednesday, October 14. There is still time to register!

10/07/2026

Let's demystify AI! Join us this evening!

09/23/2026

Join us this evening! Tonight's session, The Trio: Inquiry-Based, Problem-Based and Project-Based Learning, promises to be helpful as many researchers support stimulating student creativity and curiosity as a way to facilitate the transference of knowledge. Use this link to register:

09/15/2026

We, educators, are not alone! Resources are available to help us support our students. Join us this Wednesday to learn more about how to identify and respond to human trafficking. We'll also be raffling off tickets to the UAHT Out of the Shadows Gala! See the flyer for details.
https://mobilize.us/s/JFF53b

08/25/2026

To learn more about T-TESS and how to prepare for a successful year, join us tomorrow! Use this link to register: https://mobilize.us/s/H4NoG6

08/23/2026

It's never too early to get prepared for the T-TESS 🧑‍🏫 Texas AFT's Bridges Institute has you covered!

Join us on Wednesday, August 26, to gain a better understanding of the T-TESS process, learn how levels of the TTESS rubric apply to educators' roles and responsibilities, and more.

https://www.mobilize.us/texasaft/event/964903/?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6a8756145b7ef1406dac3369

08/11/2026

On July 1, student loan payments went up for millions of Americans. Did they go up for you?

That’s why the AFT has joined the NAACP, Protect Borrowers and others to launch the One Big Bill campaign. They are collecting borrowers’ new student loan bills and stories to show policymakers what their decisions are costing working people. Go to onebigbill.org to complete a brief survey, upload a copy of your One Big Bill (with identifying information removed) and tell us how higher payments are affecting you and your family.

Beginning in July 2026, millions of Americans with student debt will see their monthly student loan bills spike as a result of President Trump’s “One Big

08/08/2026

The AFT’s Summer Educator Academy (SEA) 2026 was a success!

Being a union member comes with many benefits, including AFT’s SEA Training of Trainers events in which educators learn research-based strategies to improve their practice and empower others to be effective, efficient, and confident educators who contribute to their schools and communities. We thank all the Texas educators who committed to spending many days during their summer break learning and connecting with other union members from across the country at The National in Leesburg, Virginia.

The professional learning sessions included Behavior Management, Strategies for Student Success, Reading and Math Instruction, CARE-FULL: Skills for School Staff to Promote Student Resilience and Prevent Trauma, Licensure, and more. We thank everyone who attended for their commitment to learn, lead, and lift their locals to new heights by training their colleagues and empowering them with the skills needed to create learning environments that meet the needs of all learners and strengthen the teaching profession.

Who's coming in 2028? 🙋

07/22/2026

ICYMI: Share My Lesson has built coursework in their Summer of Learning webinar series relevant to PSRPs in addition to educators!

When so little is built around how PSRPs really live, free and flexible matters. That’s exactly what Share My Lesson's Summer of Learning webinars are built to be. They won’t fix a paycheck, but they can hand you something useful to carry into the fall and a little room to breathe along the way. Sessions like rethinking behavior beyond compliance and adapting your self-care when work and life will not slow down are free, earn PD credit, and are ready whenever your summer allows.

Explore and sign up today:

https://sharemylesson.com/blog/summer-professional-development-paraprofessionals-psrp?link_id=1&can_id=6e0cbe452bb2b0305ab9b6a1b65cc74a&utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_6a5e6e10610eac73ba320975