txedFest Talks

In her 2024 txedFest Talk, Tomball ISD Superintendent and 2024-25 TASA President Martha Salazar-Zamora talks about what vision is as well as how to plan, prepare, and lead with vision … even when life sometimes puts you on a train to a different destination.

In his 2024 txedFest Talk, San Angelo ISD Superintendent and 2024-25 TASA President-Elect Chris Moran talks about how to normalize excellence while emphasizing faith (having a foundation), hope (being inspired), and love being a leader’s obligation.

In his 2024 txedFest Talk, Channelview ISD Superintendent Tory Hill speaks about the role of love in leadership. He shares lessons learned from his teacher-grandmother about loving, living, and leading with purpose and the importance of empathy, clarity, and balance.

In her 2024 txedFest Talk, Granger ISD Superintendent Jeni Neatherlin spoke about the power of public schools and the lessons she learned from the “haves” as a “have not” student: investing in yourself and others, that your network is your net worth, and the importance of having high standards.

As a special txedFest bonus, take a listen to Bellville ISD Superintendent Nicole Poenitzsch shares how to “Rise & Shine” in our own leadership by rejecting the process of shrinking through reframing our own gifts and avoiding the dimmer switch.

In her 2023 txedFest Talk, TASA President and Aldine ISD Superintendent LaTonya Goffney talks about her growth as a school leader and person through three superintendencies, and discusses the importance of reflecting on how far you’ve come and reminding yourself that “transformation is an inside job” and self-care is essential. 

In his 2023 txedFest Talk, Temple ISD Superintendent and 2022 Texas Superintendent of the Year Bobby Ott talks about how he learned it sometimes takes persistence to make a difference in the life of a student and how he “protects his passion” for doing the often-thankless work of an educator. 

In his 2023 txedFest Talk, Duncanville ISD Chief of Intermediate/Secondary Schools Samuel Nix shares stories from his personal journey and quest to be the best school leader he can be, despite setbacks and disappointments, and a reminder to “not allow your destination to define you.”

In her 2023 txedFest Talk, TASA President-Elect and Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora shares the interesting story of how the Tomball Innovation Center came to be and how the themes of “transform, design, and renew” should be important to innovative Texas public school leaders.

Los Fresnos CISD Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar, the 2022-23 TASA president, talks about how he sometimes visits classrooms in his district to “fill his cup” and reflects on how blessed school leaders and other educators are to do what they do despite the often-overwhelming challenges.

LaTonya Goffney, Aldine ISD superintendent and 2022-23 TASA president-elect, talks about the importance of resilience. She shares the story of her daughter Joslyn and what it has been like for her to grow up as the “superintendent’s kid” and how the challenges of leadership sometimes extend beyond the leader.

Lamar CISD Superintendent and TASA Executive Committee member Roosevelt Nivens shares how you can connect to your purpose and inspire others by telling his moving personal story and talking about what it means to “speak life” to yourself and others.

Terrell ISD Superintendent and TASA member Georgeanne Warnock, the “subbing superintendent,” gives a humorous and uplifting txedFest Talk in which she tells the story of how she became a teacher and how important educators are in the lives of their students.