Texas State Teachers Association, or TSTA, is the oldest education organization in Texas. TSTA is led by a full-time state president and vice president, a Board of Directors, and a democratically elected House of Delegates.
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Mission
TSTA's mission is to "unite, organize and empower public education advocates to shape public education in Texas, thus providing a quality public school for every child."
History
TSTA originated in Mexia in June 1880, when the North Texas Teachers Association and Austin Teachers Association combined. Among its many achievements: minimum foundation laws that set statewide teacher salaries; creation of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; certification laws; bills to establish maintenance and operation funds for schools; and thousands of other important bills. By an all-member vote in 1974, TSTA unified with the National Education Association, which is based in Washington, D.C.