

GESSA
The Garland Educational Support Staff Association (GESSA) seeks to enhance the district and improve student learning.
The Garland Educational Support Staff Association (GESSA) was organized to help our support staff in September 1974. When it began, it had a membership of 34 support service employees. Now, membership is increasing every year.
Our purpose
GESSA works to improve the standards of its members through study and professional growth, promoting fellowship, increasing interest in school and community relationships and in providing efficient service to our schools.
Our organization awards scholarships to graduating seniors at each of the high schools. If funds allow, active support staff employees interested in furthering their education are also chosen to receive a scholarship. Membership is open to any support staff employed in our district. Dues are set by the Executive Committee.
GESSA Mission
Our mission is to help our paraprofessionals and support staff enhance the district in a way that:
- communicates effectively to and for the organization
- promotes a positive atmosphere within the membership
- enlists principal/administrative support through newsletters, building representatives and services provided to members
- enhances training to include relevant programs and mentoring opportunities
- and provides opportunities for service to others
Through doing this, GESSA helps to create improved student learning through:
- a better work environment for our staff
- a stronger support system for members
- and camaraderie in the organization

Sign up to join GESSA
GESSA 2025-26 meeting calendar
GESSA General Meetings will be held from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at the Transporation Meeting Room in the Technology Center. Flyers and emails will be sent out with information on registering through Edugence along with guest speaker information.
- August 19, 2025
- September 18, 2025
- October 21, 2025
- January 20, 2026
- February 17, 2026
- April 21, 2026
- May 21, 2026
TPEP Program
TESA Professional Enrichment Program (TPEP) is a professional development program designed for educational support personnel.
Program Structure TPEP is a three-phase program designed to build technical and job-specific skills for educational support personnel. Sessions are held by local school districts, colleges and educational service centers. Certificates of attendance are presented at the end of each TPEP session. Though classes are designed to build on each other, participants may take the classes in any order and progress toward Certified Educational Organization Professional (CEOP) certification.
GISD compensates full-time paraprofessionals who attain their CEOP certification with a stipend of $600 a year (paid monthly), beginning the first check of the next contract year, and for each following year they meet recertification requirements.
TPEP Class Dates
- August 23, 2025 – Basic Communication
- October 11, 2025 – Managing Change
- March 7, 2026 – Personality Profile
- April 25, 2026 – Stress Mana
- April 25, 2026 – Assertiveness Training
The TPEP program is sponsored by the Texas Educational Support Staff Association, Inc. (TESA). The program was developed in cooperation with the Texas Education Agency, Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, Texas Public Community/Junior College Association, University of Texas, and other professional educational associations. The original program was funded through an ECIA, Chapter 2, Section 577 grant.
For more information, go to the TESA website and click on “T-PEP Program”, or contact the current GESSA TPEP representative.
- Texas Educational Support Staff Association (TESA) website
- National Association of Educational Office Professionals (NAEOP) website
Note: The TESA Central Office cannot maintain TPEP records for nonmembers.
Officers and committees
Position | Name | School/Department |
---|---|---|
President | Sandi Davis | Secretary Austin Academy Box 301 |
Vice President | Mary Ramirez | Secretary Records Center Student Services Box 501 |
Secretary | Adriana Castilleja | Data Clerk Webb MS Box 311 |
Treasurer | Jacqueline Smith | Secretary Health Services Box 155 |
Fundraising | Alicia Lopez | Buyer Harris Hill - Purchasing Box 503 |
Hospitality | Eufemia Perez | Payroll Specialist Student Nutrition Services Box 515 |
Historian | Open | |
Membership | Yolanda Martinez | Secretary Warehouse/Copiers Harris Hill Box 503 |
Newsletter/Yearbook | Gabriel Madden | Educational Aide Caldwell ES Box 205 |
Scholarship | Guadalupe (Lupita) Hernandez | Secretary Lister Elementary Box 239 |
Scholarship | Amber Abraham | Educational Aide Liberty Grove ES Box 246 |
Service Projects | Dora Suetrong | Office Aide Austin Academy Box 301 |
Service Projects | Sherri Hart | Secretary Fine Arts Box 603 |
TPEP Coordinator | Jacqueline Smith | Secretary Health Services Box 155 |
Admin Liaison | Jacob Nunez | Director Office of Innovation Harris Hill Bos 134 |