News

Welcome to the 2024-25 year! We hope that you are as excited as we are about the changes we’ve made for this year! From new events, easier registration and testing out variable numbers of team members, we have tried to listen to our membership and continue to make improvements to our organization. As we move together towards tomorrow, we will continue to build on our strengths, embrace new strategies, and foster a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Let’s make this year one of growth, collaboration, and exceptional service. Please take a moment to read through the updates and take a look at the new website. Also, make sure you read about our new recruitment incentive! It’s a great way to earn a discount on your state registration! Registration information will be coming soon, and check out your region pages for dates and deadlines. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! Melissa Hollingsworth TPSA President Updates: We are excited to announce that we created several new events and made changes to a few for this year. They are: Law Enforcement - Crash Investigation is back! Law Facility Design Police Press Conference Fire Fire Facility Design Forensics Hair Analysis is now Fiber Analysis All Events Job Exhibit One event judged together; entries across all clusters 5 total teams per chapter Wanting to help out? Apply here Refer new schools to TPSA and earn a discount on your state fees. We are testing having a variable number of competitors in a few events. This does affect our Drop Policy We are developing a new program to give out Community Service awards. This is still in progress, so feel free to send us your ideas! All rubrics will be available for review and feedback from September 2-9. If you have any feedback for rubrics, please email [email protected].

TPSA Members, I hope this letter finds you well and thriving. As we navigate the 2023-2024 school year and implement our new policies and procedures, there may be instances where revisions are necessary to clarify existing policies and procedures. After the successful conclusion of our first regional conference, we received valuable feedback from advisors regarding the 60-point minimum score required to advance to the State Conference. It has come to our attention that there is a gap in the scoring policy, particularly in addressing scores falling between 59.00 and 59.99 points. Following thorough discussions among the Executive Council and Board of Directors, we have reached a resolution to address this scoring policy gap. Effective immediately, the updated rulebook states that if a competitor or team scores between 59.50 and 59.99 and secures 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place at the Regional Conference, they will advance to the State Conference. However, if a competitor or team scores between 59.00 and 59.49 and places 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the Regional Conference, they will not advance to the State Conference. We understand the importance of clear and transparent competition rules, and this amendment seeks to enhance the overall experience for all participants. As we move forward with the TPSA events throughout the year, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the updated rulebook to ensure a smooth and equitable competition for everyone involved. Thank you for your continued support of TPSA, and we look forward to an exciting and successful school year. Best regards, Kira Hassler Newsom Executive Director

TPSA Advisors, I hope that you have had a successful start to the 23-24 school year. I wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress our leadership team has been making in updating various aspects of our organization. One key area of our focus has been ensuring that our competitive events provide the best possible experience for our students. To demonstrate our commitment to excellence, all competitive events have been intensively reviewed. As you read through our event offerings, you will notice that some events, such as Team Fire Agility, Foot Pursuit, Job Interview, Fiber Analysis, and Crash Investigation, are no longer available. Some of these events will be back next competition season after an intensive overhaul, some have been melded into other events, and some will not return. With the sunsetting of events, it became apparent that we needed to create new events to fill the gap. We are excited to announce the addition of Parliamentary Procedure, Hair Analysis, Fire Press Conference, and Job Exhibit. In addition to updating our event offerings, all scoring rubrics have been rewritten. By updating the rubrics, we aim to align them with the most current industry standards and provide clearer guidance to participants. This will enable our students to gain a deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge required for success in the public safety sector. I am pleased to present a new scoring system for the rubrics. Each rubric now totals 100 points. This provides a standardized measure for evaluation and comparison across various competitions. The state advancement criterion has also been revised. Starting this year, only those competitors who score at least 60 points and place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at their Regional Conference will be eligible to advance to the state-level competition. This threshold ensures that participants showcase a solid foundational understanding of the subject matter and have the necessary skills to excel further in their public safety journey. As advisors and key stakeholders, we invite you to review the updated rubrics. Your valuable input and suggestions are crucial in ensuring that the rubrics are comprehensive, fair, and effectively measure the skills and abilities of our talented participants. We welcome any feedback or revisions that you believe would enhance the rubrics' clarity, accuracy, or relevance to real-world scenarios and industry expectations. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team or me via email at [email protected]. We will be more than happy to assist you. We kindly ask that any suggested revisions or comments be submitted no later than September 15th, 2023 to allow us sufficient time for thorough consideration and implementation. Your input will play a vital role in bolstering the quality of our competitions and providing an enriching experience for our students. After the posted deadline, no changes will be made to the rubrics, and the event scoring guidelines will be finalized. Thank you for your continuous support and dedication to TPSA's mission of preparing the next generation of public safety professionals. Your guidance and expertise are deeply valued, and we look forward to your contributions toward achieving excellence. Sincerely, Kira Hassler Newsom Executive Director Competitive Events for 2023-2024 Correctional Services | Name | Type | Event Code | Guidelines/Scorecard | | :--------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :------------------- | | Correctional Institute Design | Prepared | CPCD | Download | | Inmate Processing | Roleplay | CRIP | Download | | Cell Extraction | Roleplay | CRCE | Download | Fire Services | Name | Type | Event Code | Guidelines/Scorecard | | :--------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :------------------- | | Press Conference | Prepared | FPPC | Download | | First Responder | Roleplay | FRFR | Coming Soon | | Agility Course | Skills Assessment | FSAC | Download | | Search and Rescue | Skills Assessment | FSRR | Download | Forensic Science | Name | Type | Event Code | Guidelines/Scorecard | | :--------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :------------------- | | Crime Scene Investigation | Roleplay | SRCS | Download | | Anthropology | Skills Assessment | SSAN | Download | | Hair Analysis | Skills Assessment | SSHA | Download | | Bloodstain Pattern Analysis | Skills Assessment | SSBS | Download | | Fingerprint Collection and Analysis | Skills Assessment | SSFC | Download | Law Enforcement | Name | Type | Event Code | Guidelines/Scorecard | | :--------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :------------------- | | Job Exhibit | Prepared | XPJE | Download | | Building Search | Roleplay | LRBS | Download | | Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) | Roleplay | LRSW | Download | | Disturbance Call | Roleplay | LRDC | Download | | Felony Traffic Stop | Roleplay | LRFT | Download | | Traffic Stop | Roleplay | LRTS | Download | | 911 Call Taking | Roleplay | LRCT | Download | | DWI Traffic Stop | Roleplay | LRDI | Download | | Report Writing | Skills Assessment | LSRW | Download | | Agility Course | Skills Assessment | LSAC | Download | Legal Studies | Name | Type | Event Code | Guidelines/Scorecard | | :--------------------------------- | :---------------- | :--------- | :------------------- | | Qualifying an Expert Witness | Prepared | JPQE | Download | | Closing Argument | Prepared | JPCA | Download | | Opening Statement | Prepared | JPOS | Download | | Parliamentary Procedure | Roleplay | JRPP | Download |

Image Do you want to become more of a leader within your Career and Technical Student Organization? Do you want to become more involved with TPSA? Do you want to have input and help govern the fastest growing Student Law Enforcement Association? Well, then YOU should apply to be on the TPSA Student Board. Do you want to add Leadership to your resume for colleges, scholarships or jobs? Then become a member of the TPSA Student Board.... Interested?.... We would like ONE student per region 😊 Image Apply Here Applications are due Friday, September 22, 2023 at 11:59pm Elections open Sep 25, 2023 and close Oct 6, 2023. October 10, 2023 Results Posted First Meeting TBD during the third week of October 2023. All questions regarding the TPSA student board should be directed to Roya Dinbali, [email protected]

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), the leading national organization supporting secondary school-level Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security (LPSCS) career education programs. This partnership will allow all Texas Public Safety Association (TPSA) advisors to become members of LAPSEN for free, giving them access to LAPSEN's expertise and resources in LPSCS career education. TPSA is a co-curricular non-profit student organization across the state of Texas. We provide leadership opportunities and real-world experience exposure to high school students through leadership roles and competitions. We focus on expanding the knowledge of current students enrolled in the LPSCS Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway. We are passionate about providing real-world career preparation, experience, training, and competition opportunities to LPSCS students across Texas. LAPSEN, on the other hand, provides and shares LPSCS career education programs, curriculum, certifications, and models that help connect secondary students to work and colleges that are cost-effective and can be used by secondary school instructors, their partners, and participating states. LAPSEN also works with others who are building a career pathway to LPS careers, including Explorers and Public Safety Cadets, experiential learning programs, LPS agencies, professional groups like NSA and IADLEST, and many others. With this new partnership, all TPSA advisors will have access to LAPSEN's resources, including its career education programs, curriculum, certifications, and models. This partnership will be incredibly valuable to our advisors and help us better prepare tomorrow's heroes. The LPSCS field constantly evolves, and we must keep up with the latest developments and best practices. Through our partnership with LAPSEN, we will be able to provide our advisors with the resources and expertise they need to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that our LPSCS students are receiving the best education possible. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring to our advisors, and we look forward to working with LAPSEN to support LPSCS education. If you are a TPSA Advisor, take advantage of this partnership and become a LAPSEN member for free. More information on how to take advantage of this will come out over the summer. Thank you for your continued support of TPSA and LPSCS education. Together, we can help prepare the heroes of tomorrow.

Due to a change in our Treasurer, we have a new address for all future mail / mailed checks for membership and conference fees. Effective immediately, all mail/checks should be mailed to the following address: 13165 W Lake Houston Pkwy PMB 118,Houston, Texas 77044(PMB Stands for Personal Mail Box, it is a required part of the address.) All schools must notify their finance office of this change to ensure that future checks are mailed to the correct address. Any checks mailed to the old address will be returned to the sender. We strongly encourage you to update your records and notify your finance office of this change immediately before the summer. It's important to emphasize that deadline extensions will not be granted for checks sent to the wrong address. Therefore, we kindly ask you to note the new mailing address and ensure that all future checks are mailed to this address. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are confident this change will allow for a smoother and more efficient financial process. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please do not hesitate to contact our Treasurer at [email protected]. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

We have great news to share with you! You can now access the state conference photos from your new chapter gallery on myTPSA! This new feature is designed to make it easy to view and share photos from TPSA events, all in one place. To access your chapter gallery and view your state conference photos, login to myTPSA and navigate to your chapter info page. From there, click on the new "Photo Gallery" button, and you'll be taken to your brand new chapter gallery, where you can view all of your photos, including the new state conference photos. (Step-By-Step Guide) Please note that this is an entirely new feature, and you cannot add photos to the gallery now. However, we have ensured that only photos relevant to your chapter are included in the gallery, ensuring that you relive the best moments from your state conferences. We have also created a step-by-step guide on accessing your chapter gallery, which you can find on the website. If you have any questions or concerns about accessing your gallery or viewing your state conference photos, please don't hesitate to contact our support team ([email protected]) for assistance. We hope this new feature will enhance your experience on myTPSA and help you stay connected to the larger TPSA community.

We are excited to announce that it's that time of year again! The TPSA Annual Survey is now open. We're calling on our dedicated advisors and students who participated in the association's activities last year to share their feedback with us. Your input is invaluable as we strive to improve and better serve our members continuously. We want to hear your thoughts on how we can enhance the TPSA experience for everyone involved. This survey is your opportunity to provide us with candid feedback, share your ideas, and suggest improvements. The survey will cover a wide range of topics, from your satisfaction with the events and activities we organized last year, to your thoughts on how we can further engage our members and serve our community better. We know your time is precious, but we strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your feedback will help us shape the future of the TPSA, and ensure that we're meeting the needs of all our members. So, please take the time to participate in the TPSA Annual Survey today. Your voice matters, and we can't wait to hear what you say. The survey is open until 5/31, so don't delay. Thank you in advance for your participation and ongoing commitment to the TPSA. Survey Link: https://tpsa.info/survey

We have released all the scorecards, judge comments, placements, and scores for all contestants from the State Conference.HOW TO VIEW SCORECARDS:Students:You can log in to the Student Portal with your myTPSA Membership ID number as the username and StateConf23 as the password to view your rubrics.Advisors: You can log in to the ​Competition Registration Site​ to view all your chapter's competitors' rubrics, placements, and scores.

I would like to start off by thanking you for your patience as you awaited a decision to be made regarding the results of the 2023 State Fiber Analysis competition. Unfortunately, after extensive deliberation, by the Board of Directors and the Executive Council, it has been decided that the scores will be scratched for this event. It is unethical for us to release scores that penalize some and not others for the same mistakes and/or policy violations. No awards will be given for this event. Please know that this decision was not made in haste. All voting parties reviewed scorecards, grievances, and any relevant information available before casting their votes. It has been decided that participating teams will still receive a scorecard with the judge's comments; however, no points will be visible. Each scorecard will indicate that the team received a disqualification for the event, as this is the only way to release comments included on the scorecards without points visible. I understand that this decision will not be accepted favorably by some and that it is incredibly frustrating to receive this kind of news after your students worked so hard to prepare for this event. Please remember that every team that competes works hard in their own way to prepare and demonstrate their skills at the state level. We must honor their hard work by ensuring that the scoring is correct and awards are distributed appropriately. If your students competed in this event and you have specific questions that you would like answered please email [email protected] .

Whew! We made it through another competition season. This year has definitely seen its highs and its lows. Thankfully more of the former and less of the latter. I would like to take a minute as we slow down and catch our breath to thank each of you for participating in TPSA. Regardless of how long you have been a member of TPSA, your presence has been noticed, and your contributions have helped fuel the overall success of our organization. I hope that as you reflect on the events from the past year you find that the regional and state conferences were a positive and beneficial experience for you. I understand that each advisor and competitor experiences a vastly different journey through TPSA. I would like for you to share your journey with me through the annual survey that you will receive in a separate email next week. It is only through your feedback that we can grow and become a better organization for all of our stakeholders. Advisors, the next two sections are for you. In addition to the aforementioned survey I would like to personally invite you (advisors) to review the competitive event rubrics for your area of interest before you leave for summer break. The more input we receive from experienced individuals such as yourself, the more closely we will be able to align our events with industry standards for next year. This alignment of events with industry standards will create opportunities for our students that far exceed what they can receive from any other career technology student organizations. You can find information on this in our previous emails, https://tpsa.info/comp-review-email Are you tired of the status quo and feel like you want to take a more active role in TPSA? Visit the about tab on our website to see the exciting opportunities we have available. Disregard the posted deadlines as they have passed, and we still need you on our team. Postings will be available until the positions are filled. Do not delay, if you are interested in one of the position please apply soon. Have you visited the about tab, and not found a position that peaks your interest? Do you have an idea for a position within TPSA that we do not have already? Send me an email so we can start a conversation. I am always looking for individuals who can help make TPSA the best CTSO available to our students.  Students, you are why I do the work that I do. It brings me great joy to see your faces light up as you cross the stage and accept your scholarships and awards. I am like a proud family member watching as you take your very first leadership role in front of hundreds of people and push aside your fears of public speaking. I am still in awe of our amazing students who shared their talents with us during State Opening Ceremonies. In high school, I would never have had the guts to stand on stage and present the colors, sing the national anthem, or play the saxophone in front of a thousand people. Thank you. You know, TPSA is nothing without our student participants, and that is why we are diligently working to provide more opportunities for you to hone your leadership skills and get involved. Did you have fun at the state student-led events, like the movie night or social? You could help in the planning of these amazing activities at future events. Interested in journalism? We are starting a student newsletter next year. Your articles could be sent to students across the state. Calling all student actors and actresses: we will be using student board members to film important training videos for our judges and volunteers. Please check out our student leadership positions that will be posted on our website in the coming weeks. In reality, who knows our student participants better than the participants themselves? We want you on our team. Join us!   As I close out this letter, I would like to thank you again for your valuable time and contribution to the success of this organization. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feedback regarding the conferences that is not addressed in the annual survey. Enjoy the rest of your school year, and I wish you nothing but the best.

OMG... less than a week to State... WHO’s ready??? The student board has been working extremely hard are some fun activities 😊 3 of them to be precise... Movie by the Pool On Monday, April 3rd we’re going to relax with a movie by the poolside. So, come dressed in your best 80’s attire, big hair, and anything neon (especially glow sticks) while we watch Ghostbusters. The movie will start promptly at 7pm. Student Social More fun from the student board… On Tuesday, April 4th we’re going all out and having a western dance party / board game competition. So come dressed at 7pm in your best western attire, cowboy boots and hat where we will rock the hotel with our fabulous DJ and a sundae bar. Interactive Game Throughout the competition, we're going to have an interactive game for us all to play - watch for signs at the event :) What we need from each of you (each school) …. RSVP to the Movie Poolside event and the Western Social so we can plan for numbers on the event. For each school to bring (and to let us know) which board games you guys are willing to bring – Not everyone is a dance machine. Google Link here - https://forms.gle/n8AcPz8NpZPysKE89 See you all soon 😊

Good afternoon, we are just over a week away from the best TPSA state conference you have ever attended. As we enter into the last week of preparation before our students head into their competitive events, I wanted to send out some event clarifications and updates. Please read through each event update and do not hesitate to email [email protected] if you have any questions. Event Check-In procedures: Each competitor will sign a written statement confirming that they have read and understand their event rubric policies and procedures. They will acknowledge that any violation of the policies and procedures will result in disqualification.  Cell Phones/ Electronic Devices/ Radios:  At no time after the competitor has checked in to their event shall the competitor be in possession of a cell phone, headphones, smartwatch, or any other electronic device capable of sending or receiving messages or outside communication. This includes devices that have been powered off. Any competitor found to be in possession of a prohibited electronic device will be disqualified. Non-working or training radios are only permitted in Fire Search and Rescue. No other event competitor is permitted to wear a radio as part of their uniform. Any competitor found to be in possession of a radio after event check-in will be disqualified, regardless of its presence at check-in.   Law Enforcement Agility Course (M/F): Clarification of course instructions. A competitor shall not advance to the next stage of the agility course until they have completed the current stage. Failure to complete a challenge will result in the competitor being sent back to the incomplete stage to complete it.  If the competitor can not complete a stage they shall not advance. Disqualification will occur when the timer reaches 5 minutes.  Clarification #1: 4’ wall climb. The competitor fails to make it over the wall on their first attempt. The competitor must continue to climb the wall until they either make it over the wall or the timer reaches 5 minutes. If the timer reaches 5 minutes, the competitor will receive a disqualification. Clarification #2: Failure to low crawl without knocking down structure (Penalty Seconds added per Infraction). Each time the competitor touches the low crawl structure with any part of their body or uniform, a penalty will be added to their time.  Clarification #3: Box steps: The competitor must step on and off of the box 12 times. Stepping on and then off counts as 1. Clarification #4:19 push-ups. The competitor fails to do 19 push-ups using the correct form. (Chest must activate the push-up counter on each push-up). The competitor must remain at this station until all 19 push-ups are completed or the timer reaches 5 minutes. If the competitor leaves the station prior to the completion of the 19 push-ups the judge/moderator shall send the competitor back to finish the push-ups. If the competitor does not know how many push-ups they have completed, they shall start again.  If the timer reaches 5 minutes, the competitor will receive a disqualification.  The judge shall not count the number of push-ups out loud. If the competitor completes more than 19 push-ups, they shall not receive a penalty, however, the judge shall not stop them or tell them they have completed the required amount.  Clarification #5: Failure to drag the mannequin completely across the distance marker. The competitor will return to the station and complete the drag before they are permitted to continue to the next station.  Clarification #6: Failure to identify the correct suspect will result in disqualification.  Report Writing: Students using Chromebooks must be able to open a word document offline. If you are unfamiliar with this process please reach out to your campus IT department for assistance. No computers/Chromebooks will be permitted internet access during the event. Students borrowing computers/Chromebooks from other students or advisors must know the login information. If the computer/Chromebook goes to sleep or locks the screen during the event the competitor will not be permitted to leave the room to get the computer unlocked or be permitted to handwrite the report. Students who arrive at the event without a computer and flash drive will not be permitted to compete in the event.  Fire Search and Rescue: Competitors shall not perform CPR on the baby. The baby is to be carried out of the course with the competitor.  Forensic Science Events: Competitors shall not enter the event with PPE in place. All PPE (gloves, shoe covers, safety glasses/goggles, face masks) must be donned after the event timer has started. Competitors who arrive at the event wearing PPE will be instructed to remove the PPE prior to the start of time. Standard lab coats/Tyvek suits worn as part of the required uniform do not count as PPE, however, Tyvek suits must not include shoe covers.   Blood Spatter Analysis:   Materials list additions: Optional: Dry erase/ wet erase markers Optional: Wet wipes or whiteboard cleaning materials Optional: Meter/Yardstick Fingerprint Collection and Analysis: Materials list additions: Optional: Liquid absorbing pad (pee pad not to exceed XXL size) Event procedure clarification:  Competitors must submit (place in the designated spot) their fingerprint card before the call of time. Competitors who fail to submit their card before the call of time will be disqualified. Judges will not be permitted to collect fingerprint cards after the call of time. The room will be arranged so that all competitors have an equal opportunity to submit within the allotted time. Thank you for taking the time to read through all of the updates provided. If you feel that we have left out any updates based on your conversations with TPSA staff, please do not hesitate to email me. We want to enter into the conference with everyone as informed as possible. Informed participants make for a smooth-running event. Have a great week, and I will see you soon.

The conference information page has been updated with the schedule of events for the day, nearby places you can get lunch and the map of where to park!

For the day and overnight car parking, Marriott property utilizes a mobile device payment system for parking. (Please see attached) Marriott has provided instructions and provided a code for the TPSA discount. Bus parking on property, as indicated below on a first come first served basis, is free for buses. Bus overflow parking is at 900 Guardians Way. Parking Map Bus Overflow

State Conference is just around the corner, and we are so excited to see you all there! This organization would not be possible without you, and to make it successful, we need your help! This year we are offering Advisor Workshops. These workshops will allow you to network with other advisors, voice your opinions on the rubrics, and even suggest new events for the students to compete in. In addition to the focus area workshops, we will offer a workshop covering Student Leadership. This workshop will focus on a Leadership Conference we are planning to offer in the fall for each region. This will give you a chance to make suggestions on what you and your students would want to learn at the Leadership Conference. Please make plans to attend one or all of these workshops! Click here to see the state agenda.

Exciting opportunity alert! TPSA is currently seeking a detail-oriented and passionate individual to join our executive council as the Secretary. As the Public Information Officer, you will be responsible for disseminating official communications and recording meeting minutes. You will work closely with our Regional Representatives to distribute information and oversee the activities of our Marketing Coordinator, Web Content Coordinator, and Membership Coordinator. If you are looking for a fulfilling opportunity to make a positive impact in your community and work alongside a dedicated team of individuals who are passionate about TPSA, then we encourage you to apply today! The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and organizational skills, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to our organization's mission and values

Are you ready to be a part of something special? TPSA is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new volunteer staff positions. We are seeking passionate and driven individuals passionate about furthering TPSA's mission with our rapid growth Whether you're a writer, an event planning pro, or a logistics guru, we have the perfect role for you. As a volunteer staff member, you'll be able to work alongside a team of like-minded individuals who share your passion for preparing students for the Public Safety field. We can't wait to see the unique perspectives and innovative ideas you'll bring. So, what are you waiting for? Apply now and join us on this incredible journey! Vist the About Page for More Information

Remember that all competitors must present a valid, original, current photo ID issued by a city, state or federal government agency, or by the competitor's school, in order to check-in at the state conference manager table and be admitted to conference events. A few notes: School IDs must be for the 22-23 academic year and in a hard plastic card First and last name on any ID presented must match TPSA event registration The photo must be current and recognizable Government-issued passports are accepted If the competitor does not have an ID as listed above, a TPSA Competitor Identification Form can be completed for use at state conference check-in or their TPSA Membership Card. To use the membership card, the competitor should upload their photograph (headshot) to their myTPSA profile. Then, the competitor's advisor can print the competitor’s TPSA ID form by clicking the “PDF of All Membership Cards” button at the top on the “chapter” page of the myTPSA membership system. Printed photo ID membership cards may be used for identification at state conference check-in.

Please welcome and congratulate the newest TPSA Student Board and Ambassadors! Student Board Lilly Wong (1) Lindsay Eastman (2) Gael Gonzalez (5) Angela Regina Ovalle (5) Ambassadors Julia Dekarske (3) Mia Taylor (3) Bailee Watson (4) Braylin Miller (4) Aleyda Hernandez (4) Alexis Garcia (4) Javier Ornelas (5) Ethan Salazar (6) Victoria Ramon  (6) Ayleen Zamarripa (6) Gavin Garza (7) Sisto Quiroz (8)

We are excited to announce a new weekly brief email sent every Monday at 10 AM, tailored to your specific role within TPSA. The email will include a collection of updates from the previous week to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest news and developments within the organization. This new communication initiative is designed to improve the flow of information throughout the organization and ensure everyone has access to concise information. The weekly brief content will also be available on the website, providing easy access to critical information anytime. We hope this new resource will help you stay informed and engaged with TPSA, and we look forward to your feedback.

Remember to submit any substitution or drop requests by creating a Special Request in myTPSA. Deadline for substitutions/drops is 3/13/23.  The deadline to submit emergency substitution requests is 3/29/23.  No requests will be considered after that date! A few reminders when submitting your request: Please select BOTH the old and new members of the substitute. In the notes, specify who is switching with whom in WHICH EVENT. Failure to specify in detail what is happening will result in denial. No more than 50% of any team may be substituted for State Competition. The substitutes must have attended and competed at a regional competition, not in the same event. Only emergency substitution requests will be considered after the close of registration. If you have questions, please contact Melissa Hollingsworth.  

Registration for the 2023 State Conference is OPEN!! Deadline to register is 3/13/23.  Details can be located here.  There is a step by step guide to help you with the registration process.   A couple of important points to remember as you register: You must go in and enter t-shirt sizes for all attendees. Submit any Substitution/Drop Requests by creating a special request. Volunteers are registered via GivePulse and NOT in the conference registration If you have any questions about registration, reach out to your Region Rep, or Melissa Hollingsworth.

Scholarships are back for 2023! TPSA scholarships help make college or trade schools more affordable for students who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and are committed to a future career in the public safety industry. TPSA is pleased to offer three scholarship awards at our 2023 State Conference. Our scholarships provide financial assistance to active TPSA members currently enrolled as seniors in a high school public safety CTSO. Visit the Scholarship section of our website to learn more and apply online. You do not have to be present at the State Conference to receive a scholarship.

Do you want to make a difference and help shape the future of your region? Applications are open for 2023-2025 Regional Representatives. Region Representatives play a vital part in the TPSA team, working collaboratively with other members of TPSA leadership and regional school advisors. Each region will elect a Regional Representative to oversee and represent the region and serve as a liaison between the regions and the Executive Council. Regional Representatives will be elected biennially in odd-numbered years during a general business meeting at State Competition. New Regional Representatives will take office after the State Competition. If a region does not have a regional representative at the beginning of the competition year, the regional chapters may be divided among other regions for competition. Information is available online.

TPSA has always aimed to be an agile organization that quickly responds to the needs of its members. In continuing with this goal, TPSA has, for the 2022-2023 School Year, made operation changes, technology changes, and engagement changes to better serve you. Celebrations Launched a new website that will stay more current and up-to-date, is more mobile-friendly and allows us to deliver more tailored experiences to our members in the future. Revised our Organization structure to better the transition of business operations between boards, added more staff positions to maximize our efficiency, and revised policies and procedures to align with current standards. Established a Competitive Events Review Committee that updated and added new Competitive Events such as Anthropology. Additionally, removed Marketing Portfolio Event while it is reviewed for the 2024 school year. Updated the regions to reflect our membership numbers and chapters to equalize and optimize regional competitions. These regions are subject to continuous changes as our membership for the year increases. Launched our new TPSA Social Media accounts to better connect with our students and advisors. Overhauled our membership system following feedback from the previous year to make it easier for advisors to register and pay membership and conference dues. Check back on September 15 for membership to open. We are so excited for the upcoming school year and look forward to seeing yall at Regional Conferences!

When we look back on the last several years, we do so with mixed emotions. We have had trials and tribulations, unlike anything many of us have ever experienced. However, we at the Texas Public Safety Association want everyone to look forward. Look forward to individual and team achievement, growth, and the feeling of belonging and acceptance that comes with being a part of something bigger than ourselves. So, I personally want to welcome our veteran competitors and schools, as well as our new chapters and students. I believe that together we are creating the future generation of public safety. I look forward to seeing your successes. I look forward to seeing your stumbles and watching as we gather around to pick each other up. Together, we will have an exciting new year to look forward to. Welcome, all!