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The Texas Classroom Teachers Association was founded in 1927 by a group of classroom teachers committed to the idea that Texas teachers should have an independent advocate looking out for their best interests.

To this day, TCTA has remained true to that calling and remains focused on meeting and anticipating the changing needs of Texas classroom teachers.

Headquartered in beautiful downtown Austin, in the 1883 John Bremond, Jr., mansion, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic places and was renovated by TCTA. We invite you to take a virtual tour of our lovely headquarters building.

TCTA Headquarters is located at 700 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701 and our mailing address is PO Box 1489, Austin, 78767.

Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:30 p.m.

You can reach us toll-free at 1-888-879-8282, via our online contact form, or by sending us a fax (512) 469-9527.

Hours

8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Phones

  • 1-888-879-8282
    (a toll-free call in Texas)
  • 512-477-9415
  • FAX: 512-469-9527

Hotlines

  • 1-888-ASK-TCTA (888-275-8282).
    We activate this line when the Texas Legislature is in session to serve as our "Legislative Hotline" recording. It is continually updated to give members up-to-the-minute news on education-related legislative action. Members also can use this number for toll-free direct access to their elected state legislators. The automated recording provides details.
  • 1-888-TRY-TCTA (888-879-8282).
    After regular business hours, TCTA's regular toll-free 888 line provides weekly updates on education-related meetings and statewide action.

Mailing address

P.O. Box 1489
Austin, Texas, 78767-1489

TCTA general structure

The TCTA Board of Directors is composed of the following:

  • A 10-member TCTA Executive Committee of statewide elected leaders:
    • TCTA President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President (one-year term in each office); and,
    • TCTA statewide committee chairs elected to two-year terms for the following committees: Budget, Curriculum & Instruction, Governance, Legislation, Membership, Professional Rights & Responsibilities, and Teacher Personal Services. (The TCTA President-Elect serves as chair of the Communications/Public Relations committee.)
  • TCTA District Directors elected by individual districts for one-or two-year terms. TCTA is broken into 20 districts, following the same lines used by TEA for Regional Education Service Centers. Also, TCTA Directors-at-Large are elected, as needed.

For a list of TCTA's current Board of Directors, please see Who's Who in TCTA.

TCTA headquarters staff

A professional team of TCTA staff members is available to provide information or assist members with a myriad of questions or problems, including employment-related legal information, legislation questions, professional development and community/public relations information. TCTA departments and staff contacts include the following:

Attorneys

TCTA is proud to have more staff attorneys per member than our closest competitor! Staff attorneys are available to members, toll-free and at no additional charge, to discuss employment-related legal problems/questions and for representation, when appropriate. TCTA also maintains a $250,000 Teacher Defense Fund to hire outside counsel to assist members when circumstances warrant. TCTA retains almost 70 attorneys throughout the state to use when local counsel is needed. The combination of nine TCTA staff attorneys and the Teacher Defense Fund allows us to appeal meritorious cases without preset funding limits.

TCTA staff attorneys are widely recognized as experts in both successful teacher legal representation and in legislative and educational policy influence at the State and Board level.

Jeri Stone, Executive Director & General Counsel
Jeri earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA staff in 1978. Jeri has been practicing law for more than 25 years and has led the organization and its legislative advocacy efforts since 1985.

Lonnie Hollingsworth, Jr., Director of Legal Services & Governmental Relations
Lonnie earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and has been with TCTA since 1986. Lonnie has practiced law for more than 20 years. In 2005, Lonnie served as Chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Dohn Larson, Chief Staff Attorney
Dohn earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA staff in 1987.  Dohn has practiced law for 20 years and has extensive experience in the intricacies of districtwide legal issues.

Holly Eaton, Director of Professional Development & Advocacy
Holly earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas-Austin and joined the TCTA legal staff in 1996. Holly has practiced law for 19 years and deals extensively with state and federal education agency rules, including NCLB.

Michael Currie, Staff Attorney
Michael earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Syracuse University's College of Law in New York and joined the TCTA legal staff in 1999. Michael has practiced law for 13 years. Previously, he worked at the law firm of Henslee, Fowler, Hepworth & Schwartz, and at the Office of the Attorney General.

Gerald Francisco, Staff Attorney
Gerald has practiced law for 20 years and has represented Texas teachers for the past 15 years, including nine years as a member of the TCTA legal staff.  He is also a certified teacher and taught high school social studies at McAllen High School for five years.

Lindsay Gustafson, Director of Public Affairs
Lindsay earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 2001 and joined the TCTA legal staff that same year. Lindsay has practiced law for seven years, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition for Public Schools.

Julie Leahy, Staff Attorney
Julie earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 1997 and joined the TCTA legal staff in 2004. Prior to her arrival at TCTA, Julie was an attorney for the State Board for Educator Certification. She has practiced law for 11 years.

Paige Bruton Williams, Staff Attorney/Governmental Relations
Paige is the newest member of our legal staff who joined TCTA in October 2008. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas-Austin in 2007. Before joining TCTA, Paige clerked for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and the Texas Association of School Boards. She also has extensive experience at the Capitol, having worked for Rep. Rob Eissler and as a legislative aide during the 78th and 80th legislative sessions.

Business Office

The TCTA Business Office maintains the financial needs of the organization. In addition to paying bills, providing financial statements and maintaining the budget, this department monitors tax legislation that could affect the association. The director of accounting is Candace R. Seekatz, who joined the TCTA staff in 1998.

Communications Department

TCTA members are continually provided with materials to keep them up-to-date on important education-related information. This department produces an award-winning quarterly magazine, sends "e-Updates" and other materials that are emailed to all members with current email addresses. The department also maintains this Web site, is the point of contact for the media, and directs other TCTA communications efforts. Kelley Strutton, Director of Publications, joined the TCTA staff in 1997. Melissa Korpi, Communications Specialist, brought her expertise in media relations to TCTA in 2008.

Legislative Services

TCTA’s lobby team is the top-ranked education group in its category according to Capitol Inside in it's 2007 Texas Lobby Power Rankings report. The TCTA legislative team has consistently proven effective, and during legislative sessions it is not uncommon for key state lawmakers to turn to TCTA for assistance with the wording of bills or for expertise on education issues. TCTA's legislative staff at headquarters is directed by Lonnie Hollingsworth, Jr., director of legal services/governmental relations; and Ann Fickel, director of legislation, who has been with TCTA since 1990.

Membership Department

The Membership Department actively recruits new TCTA members, assists current members and provides local associations with needed information and support. The director of membership is Julia Swope, who has been with TCTA since 1985.

Professional Development and Advocacy

The Department of Professional Development and Advocacy monitors and works with many state boards and agencies and is a strong advocate for TCTA member interests. The department is involved with policy initiatives generated from the Texas Education Agency, State Board for Educator Certification and others; is an active participant in various state-level meetings and provides input on proposed rules; is a research resource to the Association; handles inquiries regarding such areas as certification, curriculum, assessment and special education; and assists TCTA in the area of professional development: providing seminars to members, researching trends, and attending statewide and national professional development meetings and conferences to stay current in this important member-service area. The director of professional development and advocacy is Holly Eaton, who has been with TCTA since 1996.

Services Corporation

The TCTA Services Corporation is a separate, solely owned corporation that administers TCTA member benefit services and programs. Through the Corporation, TCTA members have access to professional liability insurance as well as numerous discounts and programs to save time and money. The liaison for the Services Corporation is Jan Lanfear, who has been with TCTA since 1971. Additional information on member benefits is available on our benefits, discounts & services page.

Updated: 06/21/07