By Samantha Womack, TCSA Communications Specialist

About 1,500 charter leaders and innovators participated in the 2015 Texas Charter Schools Conference this week in San Antonio.

Hundreds were inspired and energized by opening keynote David Robinson, education advocate and Spurs center, during the opening session on Wednesday.

“Charters are where my heart is,” Robinson said. “Leaders, thank you for bringing promise to our students.”

See the tweets of audience members.

The Honorable Joe Straus, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, also welcomed charter leaders and innovators to San Antonio.

“I appreciate all you do and want to continue to be your partner,” Straus said.

Thursday was packed with a variety of educational sessions, from advocating for your school to the Texas Education Agency on the Performance Framework.

Closing out the conference, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and TCSA Executive Director David Dunn participated in a charter school Q&A.

Bush explained how his role enables him to support public charter schools through the management of the Permanent School Fund assets. It’s access to the PSF bond guarantee program that has saved charters millions of dollars and returned that money to the classroom.

We hope you will join us for the 2016 Texas Charter Schools Conference October 3-5 in Austin.