Cove future educator gets educated all summer

By WENDY SLEDD Special to Leader-Press While most students returning  to school next week see it as a time  when their schedules will get busier,  CHS senior Ashley Prax may welcome it as a much needed break from her whirlwind travels and extensive training this summer.The newly elected Texas Association of Future Educators State Secretary, Prax spent the last three months with the state officer team at a multitude of summer events. She got indoctrinated as a new member when the TAFE Board of Directors met for their first meeting and elected advisors, designed competitive events and developed new promotional items. “We put so much effort into preparing for this meeting becausewe wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly,” Prax said. “The meeting went much faster than I anticipated and I was writing notes as fast as I could.” Prax put her leadership skills to work at the TAFE Summer Leadership camp at Texas A&M attended by hundreds of students from local schools throughout the state. But, it was not all work  for Prax. “Camp was so much fun. I enjoyed getting to hear some of the  Aggie traditions and experience dorm life for a couple of nights,” she said. “During our time at camp, we listened to education professors from Texas A&M University. I was able to make new TAFE friends and reconnect with old TAFE friends.” Next on the agenda was the TAFE advisors workshop and the Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association of Texas Conference both held in Dallas. Prax  nd fellow state officers led workshops. “When we started our breakout session, I led the teachers in a game to see if they were in the new dress code restrictions required for TAFE  competition. Maybe two teachers would have been able to compete  based on what they were wearing,” she said. “Our breakout session provided the teachers with visuals and hands on activities to take back to their chapters in order to help their students dress for success.” As the summer is winding down, Prax won’t be resting on her laurels. In the next couple of months, she and the TAFE state officer group will meet to work on the general sessions for the state conference scheduled January 30, 2016 at the University of Houston. Prax will also be leading the Cove High TAFE chapter as president.