About Texas Association of Future Educators

The Texas Association of Future Educators or TAFE (pronounced "taffy") is a co-curricular statewide non-profit (501 c3) student organization created to allow young men and women an opportunity to explore the teaching profession. The organization was created in 1984 to provide the best and brightest high school and middle school students in Texas with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about pursuing careers in education.

TAFE is sponsored by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals and is governed by a board of directors comprised of teachers, students and principals.

TAFE Involvement Looks Like


What are TAFE's yearly events?


Overall TAFE Benefits

  • Nationally affiliated with the Educators Rising
  • 1 of 9 CTSO’s recognized by the Texas Education Agency
  • Join over 4,000 TAFE members across the state of Texas!
  • Opportunities to compete at the Area, State and National levels in competitive events that build teaching skills
  • Attend the area conferences, the state Teach Tomorrow Summit, and the national Educators Rising Conference
  • Opportunities to earn Scholarships
  • Opportunities to earn Graduation Honor Cords & Recognition Items
  • Networking with professionals in the real world
  • Build Lifelong Friendships!

TAFE as a CTSO

TAFE is one of the nine Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) recognized by the Texas Education Agency. TAFE is proud to be the newest CTSO recognized in Texas. This recognition has not been granted to a student organization in Texas in the past 20 years!

 

National Affiliate

TAFE proudly supports the work of the Educators Rising and each year a delegation of TAFE's top student leaders attend the National Conference to represent the lone star state.

 

Membership Benefits for Educators Rising (National Affiliate)

  • Eligible to advance to the National Conference
  • Scholarships
  • Educators Rising National Honor Society
  • Student Representation at the National Level
  • Student Leadership
  • For more information, please visit the Educators Rising Website

TAFE History

Founding Member of the Texas Association of Future Educators
Dr. Carroll Thomas

While serving as principal of Estacado High School in Lubbock in the 1980s, Dr. Carrol A. Thomas was among several TASSP executive officers who recognized the need to educate students on the benefits of choosing teaching as a profession. Dr. Thomas and other officers met with TASSP President E. Don Brown and other educators from across the state to establish the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) in order to provide students with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about pursuing careers in education.

Dr. Thomas was excited at how the organization continued to expand throughout the years. He continued his involvement with TAFE when he became Superintendent of North Forest ISD in 1989 and his involvement in the organization continued when Dr. Thomas was named Superintendent of Beaumont ISD in 1996.

"I’m so proud to see the excitement that our young people have about education as a career. It is such a rewarding profession. I remember my days as a classroom teacher and coach fondly,” Dr. Thomas said. "Not only does teaching directly impact the life of a young person but it also opens doors for upward mobility for those who might wish to become a counselor, assistant principal, principal, central office administrator or even superintendent."


About TAFE's State Director

Monica Oliver

Monica Oliver graduated from Texas Tech University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Her teaching career begin at Round Rock High School in Round Rock ISD. She loved teaching in the Round Rock community for fifteen years. The last eight of those years she had the honor of advising, guiding, and mentoring the future teacher’s program and working with TAFE. She helped students develop into leaders as they served on region, area, and state officer teams. This experience led her to her passion of working with veteran, new and future generations of teachers.  

Monica was thrilled to have the opportunity to lead TAFE in the role as State program director because it gives her the opportunity to continue to help TAFE flourish and spread her passion for teaching across the state of Texas. Monica has two boys and lives in Round Rock. She and her family spend a lot of time with my outdoors either running, biking, or camping and when she finds the time, she loves to read. 


TAFE Staff Directory

TAFE State Director: Monica Oliver
[email protected] 512-443-2100 ext. 8512
Program Development, Starting a chapter, Competitive Events, Sponsorships

TAFE Program Assistant: Jessica Castañeda
[email protected] | 512-443-2100 ext. 8509
Membership, Conference and Workshop registrations (excluding region), and TAFE Store order questions.

Accountant: Whitney Kelly 
[email protected] | 512-443-2100 ext. 8514
Accounts payable and receivable

Exhibits: Ofra Levinson 
[email protected] | 512-443-2100 ext. 8507
Exhibit Coordinator 

Executive Director: Archie E. McAfee
[email protected] | 512-443-2100 ext. 8503