TABSE TESTIMONY 2026

Happy New Year, TABSE family.
This year, instead of a traditional holiday video, I wanted to connect with you in a different way. Rather than asking you to simply read my words, I wanted you to hear my voice. Because connection matters. Thank you for taking a moment to listen. It is truly an honor to serve as your 15th President of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. This is not a role I take lightly. It is a responsibility and a call to action. Our work is too important, and our time is now.

TABSE was built on action, leadership, and unity. I am not here to stand on the sidelines. I am in the work with you, shoulder to shoulder, leading with intention and purpose. And if we are honest, this work requires participation. This season calls for collective strength. No one succeeds alone. Every role matters. Every voice matters. Every effort matters. We must move beyond words and into action. This is not the time for hesitation or half commitments. We need bold leaders, dedicated educators, and fearless advocates who are ready to make an impact. TABSE does not wait for solutions. We create them. TABSE does not ask for a seat at the table. We build our own. TABSE does not stand still. We move forward together. So the question remains. Are you in?

Take action today. Connect with me directly at president@tabse.net, and I will ensure you are
connected with someone on our team and with one of your local affiliates. That is where the work lives. That is where relationships grow. That is where impact becomes real. Staying involved locally keeps you grounded in the mission and connected to the movement. Step up and take action. TABSE does not need spectators. We need builders, doers, advocates, and warriors for education. Ask yourself honestly. Are you mentoring the next generation of educators? Are you ensuring students are prepared for success beyond the classroom? Are you using your voice in the rooms where decisions are made? Because action speaks louder than words. Can you point to evidence of your impact within TABSE? Can you name the work you have contributed? Can you identify the outcomes of your commitment? If not, this is your moment to step in and lean into the work.

My 2026 personal resolution is to slow down and listen. To listen more deeply to the people I serve, and to the quiet guidance that often gets lost in the rush of daily demands. Not every decision needs to be made quickly, but every decision should be made thoughtfully. When I slow down, I lead with greater wisdom, patience, and compassion. I become more present and more grounded. My hope is that by choosing to slow down, I can better serve others and remain faithful to the purpose that called me to this work. I encourage you to reflect on how slowing down might strengthen your own leadership as we move forward together.

This is our challenge. This is our time. This is our call to action.

Let our actions match our words. Because we are one, and we are moving forward.

I am Dr. Darwin Prater Spiller, the 15th President of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators, wishing you a prosperous and powerful New Year.