Texas State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer named TCTA Friend of Education
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Texas State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio)has been named the Texas Classroom Teachers Associations 2012-13 Friend of Education in the public official category.
TCTA a professional association for teachers and other classroom professionals annually presents its Friend of Education Award to honor a public official who has made a significant contribution to public education in Texas.
Martinez Fischer was nominated for the award primarily for his efforts on behalf of teachers in the 2011 legislative session. Although not a member of the House Public Education Committee he was heavily involved in that sessions public education battles. As chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus he led the Democratic opposition to House Bill 400 Senate Bill 8 and other legislation harmful to public schools and teacher rights and benefits.
Martinez Fischer who has represented Texas House District 116 since 2001 used his knowledge of House rules to coordinate the numerous points of order that eventually killed HB 400 in the regular session. He can be credited with saving the state minimum salary schedule and K-4 class-size caps issues that were not included in SB 8 (essentially the Senate version of HB 400) that passed during the special session.
The Friend of Education awards have been presented since 1976 with winners selected by the TCTA Legislation Committee. The awards are given in two categories: public official and private citizen. Recipients must be deemed true friends of education educators and students as demonstrated by their leadership actions and support.
TCTA will honor Martinez Fischer at 3 p.m. Friday Jan. 25 2013 during the first business meeting of the associations annual convention in Austin where educators from across the state will participate in continuing education seminars elect leaders for statewide and district positions within TCTA visit the Capitol to meet with legislators and their aides and vote on TCTAs legislative agenda.
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association is the leading teacher association in Texas. Founded in 1927 TCTA is a nonprofit independent professional association based in Austin that serves 50000 members statewide. It is the only statewide teachers association that limits active-level membership to those directly involved in classroom teaching or teaching support including librarians counselors and teacher aides.
