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TCAT
e-NEWSLETTER |
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Information for
instructional
material
professionals |
DECEMBER 2011 |
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EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
John
Bridges,
President
Fort
Bend
ISD
Jill
Cook,
President-Elect
Clear
Creek
ISD
Dana
Wiest,
Secretary
Ector
County
ISD
Greg
Wright,
Treasurer
Leander
ISD
Kim
Slough,
Imm.
Past
President
Abilene
ISD
Betty
Adamson,
Victoria
ISD
Lea
Bailey,
Irving
ISD
Tony
Black,
Whitehouse
ISD
Misty
Fisher,
Mansfield
ISD
Donna
Freer,
Advantage
Academy
Steve
Hanson,
Galena
Park
ISD
Casey
Johnson,
Center
Point
ISD
Amy
Holik,
Lamar
CISD
KK
Korelich,
Judson
ISD
Rod
Leer,
Brenham
ISD
Susan
Lenox,
Plano
ISD
Karen
McClanahan,
Eagle
Mt.-Sagninaw
ISD
Sandy
McCollom,
Hays
CISD
Kellie
Skarda,
Goose
Creek
CISD
Brian
Squyres,
Northside
ISD
Matt Tyner, Dallas ISD
David Scott, DeSoto ISD, alternate
Cliff
Avery,
Executive
Director
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TCAT's mission is to train and assist textbook professionals so they can help the students of Texas.
TCAT offers the only regular training for textbook coordinators in public school districts or open enrollment charter schools.
Throughout the year, TCAT acts as a clearing house for coordinators who have questions or problems with their ordering, warehousing, delivery or inventory. Veteran coordinators offer their expertise and knowledge to help fellow TCAT members work smoothly with one goal in mind - getting the materials to the kids.
At TCAT's Annual Conference each December, new coordinators get hands-on computer training in the complex state ordering system known as EMAT. |
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TCAT
e-NEWSLETTER |
|
Information for instructional
material professionals
|
NOVEMBER 2011 |
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The TCAT
newsletter is available
on-line. Click on the
image for PDF download.
* INCLUDES
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE &
HIGHLIGHTS! |
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Name change
on December
ballot
After a strategic
planning retreat, the
TCAT Board voted to
proceed with a name
change to reflect the
changing era. The new
name, if members approve
it at the Annual
Conference in December,
will be the
"Instructional Materials
Coordinators Association
of Texas" - IMCAT.
In Senate Bill 6, the
Legislature virtually
removed the word
"textbook" from state
statutes. In a poll of
textbook coordinators,
two-thirds of the
respondents said it was
somewhat important or
very important to change
the name of the
organization to reflect
the changes in state
policy.
"No matter what the
name, our organization
will be committed to
helping instructional
materials professionals
in their important job
of educating children,"
said TCAT President Kim
Slough (Abilene ISD).
"The TCAT name may
change, but the values
that TCAT held will
never change."
The election will be
conducted during the
Annual Meeting at noon
Tuesday (Dec. 6).
Officers and board
members will also be
elected.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Kim Slough, President
Abilene ISD
John Bridges,
President-Elect
Fort Bend ISD
Kellie Skarda,
Secretary
Goose Creek CISD
Greg Wright,
Treasurer
Leander ISD
Abel Villarreal,
Imm. Past President
Corpus Christi ISD
Betty
Adamson, Victoria ISD
Jill Cook, Clear Creek
ISD
James Davis, Woden ISD
Misty Fisher, Mansfield
ISD
Donna Freer, Advantage
Academy
Chuck Kennedy, Irving
ISD
KK Korelich, Judson ISD
Rod Leer, Brenham ISD
Susan Lenox, Plano ISD
Brian Squyres,
Northside ISD
James Voss, Richardson
ISD
Dana Wiest, Ector
County ISD
Cliff Avery, Executive
Director
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TCAT
helps you
stretch
your IMA dollars
20th Annual
Conference
EARLY
BIRD DEADLINE
FRIDAY
NOV. 11
TCAT
20th
Annual
Conference
* Dec.
4-7
Embassy
Suites
Hotel
and
Conference
Center
San
Marcos,
TX
You'll
save your
IMA money
with all the
knowledge
you'll
receive at
TCAT's
Annual
Conference.
You'll save
even more by
registering
before Nov.
11!
Click
here to
register.
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Speaker
to look at
Future of
Technology
in Education
Dr. Douglas
Holschuh, Senior
Lecturer in
Educational
Technology in
the Department
of Curriculum &
Instruction at
Texas State
University-San
Marcos, will
give TCAT
attendees a
glimpse of the
future on
Wednesday Dec..
7
Dr. Holschuh
will discuss
"The Future of
Technology in
Education" at a
general session
Wednesday
morning.
He holds a
doctorate in
Instructional
Technology from
the University
of Georgia,
where he focused
on instructional
design and
development and
the communities
of practice that
develop among
practitioners of
instructional
design. He has
taught
instructional
design and K-12
technology
integration at
the University
of Georgia,
Piedmont
College, and now
Texas State
University.
Before returning
to graduate
school, he
worked in
publishing for
close to 10
years, first at
the medical
publisher W.B.
Saunders Company
and then as a
freelance
copyeditor,
graphic
designer, and
web designer. |
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Bring an
unwrapped
toy for Toys
for Tots
I You may
have heard
that the
site of
TCAT's
almost-Christmas
20th Annual
Conference
- the
Embassy
Suites Hotel
and
Conference
Center in
San Marcos -
is
just up the
road from a
primo Outlet
Mall.
If you
make it over
that way,
here's
another gift
for your
list.
Whether you
buy it at
the mall or
pack it from
home, bring
an unwrapped
toy to the
Toys For
Tots
collection
at the TCAT
conference.
Join us
from 5:30 to
6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
(Dec. 6) for
a
get-together
in
conjunction
with the
Embassy
Suites
Manager's
Reception.
Drop off
your toy
donation for
the Toys For
Tots Drive,
a project of
the U.S.
Marine Corps
Reserve.
TCAT
will present
the toys to
the Marines,
and the
Marines will
get them to
the kids
(kind of
like we do
with
instructional
materials).
After
the
reception,
kick back at
Casino
Night,
sponsored by
Hayes
Software and
Textbook
Warehouse.
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August
Training
Available on
USB drive
T.E.A. and TCAT
combined to
present three
two-hour
sessions on the
new allotment
system and how
coordinators can
navigate its
intricacies.
Now, through an
exclusive
arrangement with
the Texas
Education
Telecommunications
Network (TETN),
TCAT is able to
offer videoss of
this important
training to
schools across
Texas. These
recordings have
vital
information for
superintendents,
campus
administrators,
technology
specialists,
curriculum
specialists and
textbook
coordinators.
The Monday (Aug.
1) training
covered an
overview of SB6
and the basics
of
requisitioning.
Tuesday (Aug. 2)
training covers
disbursements.
The Wednesday
(Aug. 3)
training
included a
refresher on
requisitions and
an open
question-and-answer
session.
Cost is only
$25, plus $5
shipping and
handling
(checks, credit
cards, POs).
Click here to
purchase your
Training DVD. |
|
TCAT's mission
is to train and
assist textbook
professionals so
they can help
the students of
Texas.
TCAT offers the
only regular
training for
textbook
coordinators in
public school
districts or
open enrollment
charter schools.
Throughout the
year, TCAT acts
as a clearing
house for
coordinators who
have questions
or problems with
their ordering,
warehousing,
delivery or
inventory.
Veteran
coordinators
offer their
expertise and
knowledge to
help fellow TCAT
members work
smoothly with
one goal in mind
- getting the
materials to the
kids.
At TCAT's Annual
Conference each
December, new
coordinators get
hands-on
computer
training in the
complex state
ordering system
known as EMAT.
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TCAT
e-NEWSLETTER |
|
Information for
instructional material
professionals
|
AUGUST 2011 |
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BREAKING
NEWS
 The
Instructional
Materials
and
Education
Technology
Division has
released
Frequently
Asked
Questions
about
procedures
under the
new
allotment
system.
Click here
to access
the FAQs.
TCAT has
sent an
editorial to
all the
newspapers
in the
state,
explaining
that
instructional
materials
may be late
getting to
schools this
year.
Coordinators
should feel
free to
share this
piece with
local media.
Click here
for a copy.
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TCAT
committee
recommendations
for new
era
With
the passage
of Senate
Bill 6,
signed into
law July 19,
the way that
Texas
schools
order and
account for
instructional
materials
changes
dramatically.
The old
system, in
which the
state paid
for books
based on
enrollment
is gone.
Now, schools
will have to
decide how
to use a
lump-sum
Instructional
Materials
Account that
can be used
for books,
software,
technological
equipment
and even
salaries.
The Texas
Education
Agency
briefed TCAT
leaders on
the new
system July
25, and an
ad hoc TCAT
committee
developed
recommendations
for
coordinators.
Recommendations
are:
1.
HOLD YOUR
FIRE
. Don't get
in a hurry
to place
your orders.
2.
FIRST THINGS
FIRST.
Make your
decisions in
the order
that you
will be
requisitioning
materials.
3.
LEAD YOUR
TEAM.
More than
ever,
instructional
materials
decisions
require a
team from
Curriculum,
Technology,
Purchasing
and Finance.
The
coordinator
needs to
lead the
team.
4.
DON'T SPEND
IT ALL.
Save a
percentage
for
emergencies
as the
system
evolves.
FOR A
COMPLETE
DISCUSSION
OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS,
CLICK HERE.
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EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Kim Slough,
President
Abilene ISD
John Bridges,
President-Elect
Fort Bend ISD
Kellie Skarda,
Secretary
Goose Creek CISD
Greg Wright,
Treasurer
Leander ISD
Abel Villarreal,
Imm. Past
President
Corpus Christi
ISD
Betty
Adamson,
Victoria ISD
Jill Cook,
Clear Creek ISD
James Davis,
Woden ISD
Misty Fisher,
Mansfield ISD
Donna Freer,
Advantage
Academy
Chuck Kennedy,
Irving ISD
KK Korelich,
Judson ISD
Rod Leer,
Brenham ISD
Susan Lenox,
Plano ISD
Victor Ortiz,
South San
Antonio ISD
Brian Squyres,
Northside ISD
James Voss,
Richardson ISD
Dana Wiest,
Ector County ISD
Cliff Avery,
Executive
Director
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T.E.A./TCAT
TRAINING
AVAILABLE
ON DVD
T.E.A.
and
TCAT
combined
to
present
three
two-hour
sessions
on
the
new
allotment
system
and
how
coordinators
can
navigate
its
intricacies.
Now,
through
an
exclusive
arrangement
with
the
Texas
Education
Telecommunications
Network
(TETN),
TCAT
is
able
to
offer
DVDs
of
this
important
training
to
schools
across
Texas.
These
recordings
have
vital
information
for
superintendents,
campus
administrators,
technology
specialists,
curriculum
specialists
and
textbook
coordinators.
The
Monday
(Aug.
1)
training
covered
an
overview
of
SB6
and
the
basics
of
requisitioning.
Tuesday
(Aug.
2)
training
covers
disbursements.
The
Wednesday
(Aug.
3)
training
included
a
refresher
on
requisitions
and
an
open
question-and-answer
session.
Cost
is
only
$25,
plus
$5
shipping
and
handling
(checks,
credit
cards,
POs).
Click
here
to
purchase
your
Training
DVD.
|
TCAT
Board
votes
to
proceed
with
name
change
After a
strategic
planning
retreat,
the TCAT
Board
voted to
proceed
with a
name
change
to
reflect
the
changing
era. The
new
name, if
members
approve
it at
the
Annual
Conference
in
December,
will be
the
"Instructional
Materials
Coordinators
Association
of
Texas" -
IMCAT.
In
Senate
Bill 6,
the
Legislature
virtually
removed
the word
"textbook"
from
state
statutes.
In a
poll of
textbook
coordinators,
two-thirds
of the
respondents
said it
was
somewhat
important
or very
important
to
change
the name
of the
organization
to
reflect
the
changes
in state
policy.
"No
matter
what the
name,
our
organization
will be
committed
to
helping
instructional
materials
professionals
in their
important
job of
educating
children,"
said
TCAT
President
Kim
Slough
(Abilene
ISD).
"The
TCAT
name may
change,
but the
values
that
TCAT
held
will
never
change."
|
|
The TCAT
newsletter
is
available
on-line.
Click on
the
image
for PDF
download. |
|
| |
TCAT's
mission
is to
train
and
assist
textbook
professionals
so they
can help
the
students
of
Texas.
TCAT
offers
the only
regular
training
for
textbook
coordinators
in
public
school
districts
or open
enrollment
charter
schools.
Throughout
the
year,
TCAT
acts as
a
clearing
house
for
coordinators
who have
questions
or
problems
with
their
ordering,
warehousing,
delivery
or
inventory.
Veteran
coordinators
offer
their
expertise
and
knowledge
to help
fellow
TCAT
members
work
smoothly
with one
goal in
mind -
getting
the
materials
to the
kids.
At
TCAT's
Annual
Conference
each
December,
new
coordinators
get
hands-on
computer
training
in the
complex
state
ordering
system
known as
EMAT.
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Information for instructional
material professionals
|
JULY 2011
|
|
|
The TCAT
newsletter is available
on-line. Click on the
image for PDF download. |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Kim Slough, President
Abilene ISD
John Bridges,
President-Elect
Fort Bend ISD
Kellie Skarda,
Secretary
Goose Creek CISD
Greg Wright,
Treasurer
Leander ISD
Abel Villarreal,
Imm. Past President
Corpus Christi ISD
Betty
Adamson, Victoria ISD
Jill Cook, Clear Creek
ISD
James Davis, Woden ISD
Misty Fisher, Mansfield
ISD
Donna Freer, Advantage
Academy
Chuck Kennedy, Irving
ISD
KK Korelich, Judson ISD
Rod Leer, Brenham ISD
Susan Lenox, Plano ISD
Victor Ortiz, South San
Antonio ISD
Brian Squyres,
Northside ISD
James Voss, Richardson
ISD
Dana Wiest, Ector
County ISD
Cliff Avery, Executive
Director
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SB6
on
Governor's
desk
T.E.A.,
TCAT plan
training
on new
Allotment
Bill Aug.
1-3
T.E.A.'s
Instructional
Materials
and
Educational
Technology
Division and
TCAT are
planning a
series of
webinars
Aug. 1-3 to
train
instructional
materials
professionals
on the new
system that
is the
result of
Senate Bill
6.
Senate Bill
6 passed
June 28 and
the Governor
signed it
yesterday,
July 19. It
will
overhaul the
way that
Texas orders
and process
instructional
materials
for 4.5
million
schoolchildren.
The biggest
change is
the creation
of an
Instructional
Materials
Account for
every school
district and
open-enrollment
charter
school. The
schools will
have
discretion
on how to
spend the
amount set
into their
IMAs, as
long as they
provide the
materials
necessary to
cover the
curriculum.
T.E.A. has
been
revamping
its EMAT
electronic-ordering
and
inventorying
system to
deal with
the
legislative
mandates.
T.E.A. and
TCAT
trainers are
tentatively
planning to
present
training via
the web and
TETN from 10
a.m. to Noon
Monday, Aug.
1; from 2 to
4 p.m.
Tuesday,
Aug. 2; and
from 10 a.m.
to Noon
Wednesday,
Aug. 3.
Details will
be made
available
soon.
FYI: T.E.A.
says that
EMAT will
not open for
ordering
until after
the August
training.
For complete
text of SB 6
click to:
www.capitol.state.tx.us
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TCAT's mission
is to train and
assist textbook
professionals so
they can help
the students of
Texas.
TCAT offers the
only regular
training for
textbook
coordinators in
public school
districts or
open enrollment
charter schools.
Throughout the
year, TCAT acts
as a clearing
house for
coordinators who
have questions
or problems with
their ordering,
warehousing,
delivery or
inventory.
Veteran
coordinators
offer their
expertise and
knowledge to
help fellow TCAT
members work
smoothly with
one goal in mind
- getting the
materials to the
kids.
At TCAT's Annual
Conference each
December, new
coordinators get
hands-on
computer
training in the
complex state
ordering system
known as EMAT.
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