School is about to begin throughout the state for the 2022-2023 school year. As you prepare for another year of leading and guiding students, know how important you are as educators. Students K-16, look to you for encouragement, instruction, guidance, support and caring, regardless of their ages.

As a survivor of Covid-19 disruptions to schools, teacher increased expectations, lack of adequate compensation, teacher shortages, school violence and sometime unappreciation by parents, students and others, you still teach because "that is what you do"! Let us hope and pray that your school experiences this year will be one of accomplishment for students and satisfaction by school authorities of requirements imposed by your schools, districts and State. Welcome back educators and thank you for your service and dedication. Have a fantastic school year.

Some people make you smile when they enter the room, others make you smile when they leave the room. Dr. Elaine Bailey was one of those who made you smile when she entered the room, and then sad when she left the room.

Most TABSE members of five years or more knew Dr. Elaine Bailey. Although she stood less than five feet tall, she was a tremendous giant, who stood tall and proud in her everyday actions and words. She was a mentor, teacher, leader, business woman, politician, and friend to many. Dr. Bailey was a leader as president of the Houston AABSE, president of the Texas ABSE, NABSE Regional Representative and several other roles during her professional career. She could always be counted on to provide support and encouragement to educators seeking to advance in their area of experiences or in their hopes of promotion and service to students.

Dr. Bailey was a proud wife and mother, who loved family and celebrating them. She also was very caring of and giving to friends and associates through little acts of thoughtfulness, such as mailing birthday cards, Christmas greetings, thank you cards, or just saying hello. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and loved her sisterhood with so many other wonderful women she met and knew.

We lost Dr. Alease Elaine Bailey in June 2019, after illness, which touched so many people after hearing of her passing. As a result of her importance and influence to the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators, the Dr. Elaine Bailey Heart of HAABSE Award was named in her honor, which is presented each year to current or previously active HAABSE members for their many years of dedication, commitment and loyal service to HAABSE. TABSE also has recognized her by naming its annual state pre-conference golf outing the Dr. Elaine Bailey Innovator's STEAM Golf Tournament. Her presence is felt even today, and we are better as a result of having Dr. Alease Elaine Bailey with us during our lives.

TABSE lost a respected, energetic, warm, caring, personable champion of education, who made things better by her council and support. Dr. Alease Elaine Bailey's name will not be forgotten, because her finger print is stamped on the heart of TABSE.

The new school year is about to begin and the TABSE local affiliates have been making plans for another successful year in each affiliate area. All educators and friends reading this message are encouraged to join your local affiliate now and take an active role in bettering your school communities. Make certain that your dues are paid and your name is listed on the local affiliate roster with the TABSE Financial Secretary. It is recommended that personal e-mail addresses be used rather than school district e-mail addresses if possible. The membership roster is then forwarded to the TABSE Correspondence Secretary, who adds those lists of names to the mailing lists to receive TABSE correspondence and election materials etc. throughout the year.

The 2022 Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association Hall of Honor and Hall of Fame Banquet was held on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Houston, Texas. Seventy Five former athletes and coaches were recognized and awarded for their accomplishments in high school state athletics during the period of segregation in Texas. 800 people were in attendance for the banquet and represented all parts of Texas where athletic state accomplishments among Black high schools were accomplished and earned.

During the latter half of 1920, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the governing body for the White high schools in Texas, decided to establish a separate Negro division. It was named the Texas Interscholastic League of Colored Schools (TILCS). The first state track and field meet was held at Prairie View Normal College in April 1921. The principal of Prairie View A&M College, Dr. J. G. Osborne, was the first league sponsor/director of 40 schools in 1921. The enrollment increased to 300 schools by 1927, when W.R. Banks, Prairie View A&M Principal, became the second league sponsor/director. From the beginning, in the Black community it was called the "Prairie View Interscholastic League" (PVIL) or the "Negro League" because the state track meet, basketball championship and documentation on the academic and athletic competitions were housed there. The TILCS/PVIL served as the governing body for interscholastic competition between Black high school students in Texas from 1920 to 1970.

The 75 inductees were recognized in the areas of Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Coaching, Football, Swimming, Tennis, and Track. One of the inductees was TABSE member, Mrs. Anna Goode Jones, who was a member of the 1955 Girls State 1A Basketball Championship team from George Washington Carver High School in Sweeney, Texas. The PVILCA also presented the travelling trophy to Mrs. Jones for the next year, as an award for the greatest financial support to the banquet among all of the banquet honorees.

Mrs. Jones has been an active member as TABSE/HAABSE office manager from 1995 until 2020, and also hosted numerous TABSE State Conference hospitality locations for conference workers. Congratulations to all of the Hall of Fame inductees an especially Mrs. Anna Goode Jones.

TABSE elections are conducted to fill positions each year following a two-year staggered term of office. Executive Board elections are conducted to identify and elect talented, dedicated and professional leaders who will contribute to the continued growth and development of TABSE. In January 2023, elections will occur to fill the positions of President-Elect, Financial Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Historian and Chaplain, each for a two-year term. Nominations for the various positions will be open from September 1, 2022, until November 1, 2022, and interested and qualified candidates should consider making application to run for office.

Qualifications to run for any TABSE Executive Board position include being in good standing with TABSE, current dues paid membership in a local affiliate for at least the past 2 years, current dues paid membership in TABSE for at least the past 2 years, current dues paid membership in NABSE for at least the past 2 years and ability to perform and execute the duties of the position being sought. The President and President-Elect cannot be members of the same local affiliate. Proven TABSE members who believe they meet the criteria listed above should give consideration to seeking office and helping to lead our organization for the next two years.

The 50th Annual NABSE National Conference is gearing up be the best conference yet, as NABSE celebrates fifty years of excellent service to students throughout the United States and other countries as well. With the Covid-19 pandemic better managed and protected by the general public, it is believed that greater participation and attendance will be achieved this year.

The national conference is the place to be, in order to meet, associate, network and be energized by some of the best academic professionals anywhere. Educators from all levels will come together and share their talents, experiences and leadership during the four day conference, which will be held in National Harbor, Maryland, outside of the D.C. area. Plan to attend and be a part of this momentous occasion for NABSE.

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Becoming a Texas A&M-Commerce Lion means joining a community of people who lift each other up. They believe that greatness is something bigger than themselves, and they're proud to be one of the best colleges near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. When you bring your unique genius there, you'll make us even better.