Starting a New TAFE Chapter

Here is a step-by-step process of starting a new TAFE chapter:

Step 1: Secure approval from school administration. Gaining the support for your principal and CTE director is vital to having a successful chapter. Use this guide as a resource to promote the mission of TAFE. Be sure to fill out the New Campus Form.

Step 2: Attend the Teacher Leader Workshop held during the preconference days prior to the FCSTAT Summer Conference.

Step 3: Recruit! Start with students in your classes, then reach out to other teachers who can recommend students who might be interested in a career in education. Establishing a core group of students to serve as an officer team early will provide a solid foundation for your chapter. View Promoting Your Chapter for more ideas.

Step 4: Register for Educators Rising Membership. Create a Teacher Leader account at EducatorsRising.org. For more DETAILED steps, please view How to EdRising. Once your account is created and approved, your students may begin creating their accounts. All TAFE members must be members of Educators Rising to compete and participate in TAFE events.

Step 5: Pay state and national dues. Dues must be paid prior to participating in your area conference.

Step 6: Draft a constitution. See the example on page 27 of the New Chapter Guide.

Step 7: Plan a tentative calendar of activities. Be sure to include projects in each of the seven TAFE project areas. See the sample yearly calendar on page 14 and ideas for TRAFLES projects on pages 18-23 of the New Chapter Kit.

Step 8: Prepare a budget. You will need to plan ahead to determine how much money your chapter will need and how you will go about earning that money. See Teacher Resources for chapter management tools.

Step 9: Begin preparing for your area conference. See TAFE Areas Map to locate your area's coordinator and conference information.