During these often troubling and divisive times, I find myself looking for hope, optimism, and positivity each day. Don’t get me wrong, I keep up with everything going on in the world. That is my obligation as a citizen, and it’s a critical part of my job. But sometimes the weight of the issues we face can be overwhelming. National polarization often shows up in our local schools, and I frequently talk with school leaders who are courageously and ethically navigating those challenges.
Recently, while searching for something uplifting to watch, I decided to rewatch “Ted Lasso.” That character, one of boundless positivity, integrity and goodness, reminds us in countless ways how leadership can transform an organization. One of Ted’s nuggets of wisdom is, “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.”
He’s right. Building something meaningful takes leadership, integrity, trust and teamwork over the long haul. School administrators are builders in every sense — working to unify communities, educate children, and open doors of opportunity. Giving every child a shot at the American dream and building a brighter future, one student at a time, will always be “the right thing.”
Ted Lasso’s wisdom brings to mind one of my favorite presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, who urged us to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” That looks different for each of us. For some, it means showing up to serve every day. For others, it’s sharing success stories, supporting colleagues in need, defending public education, engaging with elected leaders, or simply practicing kindness. The opportunities to lead are endless, but each of us has a role to play.
If you combine the two Teds (Lasso and Roosevelt) you might say: “When you do the right thing with what you have, where you are, it is never wrong.”
Here at TASA, where we are is in our centennial year. Throughout 2025, we’ve reflected on the past century, honoring the legacy of those who built TASA into the trusted support system and strong advocate for Texas school leaders it is today. The most recent issue of INSIGHT celebrates that milestone with 100 reflections from members who shared how TASA has inspired them. Be sure to check that out.
But a centennial is not only a time for looking back — it’s also about looking forward. In January, we celebrated the incredible achievement of fulfilling the TASA 2025 Strategic Framework. Launched in 2018, it laid out our aspirations and the strategies that carried us through to this moment. Now that work is complete, it’s time to set our sights on what’s next.
This year, the TASA Executive Committee and officers have been engaging leaders across the organization to lay the foundation for our future. The first step is refreshing the TASA visioning document, “Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas,” to ensure it reflects today’s realities and tomorrow’s opportunities.
This new document represents the collective wisdom and experience of our membership, and it boldly states what educational leaders believe is needed for Texas to achieve its promise to every child in our great state. Nearly 150 members began work on it this summer and it continues this fall. That updated vision will be presented at the 2026 TASA Midwinter Conference, after which we will call on our members to help shape a new strategic framework later that year.
Vision matters. As TASA President Chris Moran recently reminded us, we can’t wait for someone else to create it — not for TASA’s future and not for the future of public education in Texas. While TASA leaders are drafting the map, soon every member will have the opportunity to “put their thumb on it.” Together, we must declare what we stand for and what we aspire to achieve.
-TASA Executive Director Kevin Brown, Ed.D.
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