The Bandera County Retired Teachers Association (BCRTA) held its final meeting of the school year on April 16, with state-level guests highlighting ongoing advocacy efforts and upcoming opportunities for retired and active educators.
Guest speakers Melissa Ramos, president of TRTA District 20, and her husband Jessie Ramos, vice president of the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation, addressed the group about their roles and responsibilities. Melissa Ramos encouraged members to attend the upcoming TRTA District 20 spring meeting in Floresville, scheduled for June 5, where TRTA State President Ella Gauthier is set to speak about new initiatives for the next legislative session.
She also reviewed this year’s accomplishments by the Texas Retired Teachers Association and discussed how they have impacted both retired and active educators. Ramos noted that the 2026 state conference will be offered virtually on March 25 to allow the organization to redirect more resources into legislative advocacy.
Jessie Ramos spoke in depth about the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation, where he serves on the board. He outlined the Foundation’s support programs, with disaster relief highlighted as a critical area. In the past year, the Foundation received 500 applications for family assistance and 100 from individuals.
In addition to disaster relief, the Foundation awards grants and scholarships to educators. Ramos reported that 30 scholarships were given to current teachers and 35 to first-year educators, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $1,000. Since 2008, the Foundation has awarded over $850,000 in financial assistance to Texas educators.
BCRTA member Sarah Sandifer updated attendees on the upcoming Smithsonian traveling exhibit, which will be on display in Bandera in late June. The displays will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various locations throughout the county.
John Milner, a representative of the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), spoke about the benefits of joining the organization, which has 80,000 members statewide, including 200 currently employed by Bandera ISD. He emphasized liability insurance for retirees who substitute teach, along with professional development opportunities, service discounts, and lobbying efforts. He noted that ATPE offers associate memberships for retired educators.
During the business portion of the meeting, the minutes from the March 2025 meeting were accepted and filed. Treasurer Sharon Anderwald reported that membership numbers remained unchanged from March.
Second Vice President Tracy Thayer provided an update on the group’s book fund, encouraging donations of board books and early-reader materials, particularly for Pre-K and Kindergarten students, as those age ranges were currently underrepresented in the group’s collection.
President DeeAnne Mazurek closed the meeting by reminding members that the state legislature is set to vote on the school voucher program.
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