Powerful conversation w/ NEA President Becky Pringle & 2026 National Teacher of the Year Leon Smith. One message I’ll carry with me: Our stories are power. When educators lead, advocate, & share their experiences, we strengthen public education & inspire the next generation to join our profession.

Four days ago: a trusted nonprofit serving unaccompanied migrant children shut down after losing its federal contract. Today: a Houston law firm with Trump ties lands a $150M contract for the same work. Political connections shouldn’t determine who serves vulnerable children.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. My dad, Roberto, taught me by example: hard work, integrity, faith, humility, and unconditional love. The husband and father I am today is rooted in his example. Gracias, Papá. I’m proud to be your son. Te quiero mucho. ❤️

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied. Today we honor the resilience, courage, and contributions of Black Americans. We celebrate liberation, tell the truth about our history, and recommit to justice, opportunity, and freedom for all. #Juneteenth

Inspired after mentoring incredible Latino youth through CHCI NextGen today — students from TX, LA & AR dreaming of becoming immigration lawyers, nurses, engineers & policy leaders. Most impactful? Learning from them and their commitment to building a more just future. Gracias, CHCI. Adelante. 💪🏽✨

26 years ago, I married the love of my life, mi compañera de vida. Through every joy, challenge, and dream, my love and admiration for you has only grown deeper. Patty, mi amor, gracias for this beautiful journey together. Te escogería una y otra vez. ❤️ Happy 26th Anniversary.

Today across from the Capitol, I stood w/educators, workers, & advocates to say: No more business as usual. When voting rights are weakened, working people lose power. Public schools lose voice. Democracy suffers. The adults who care are still here. And we’re still fighting.✊🏽 @neatoday.bsky.social

Patty & I proudly voted on Day 1 of early voting in the Texas runoff election. Make a plan to vote early or on Election Day, Tuesday, May 26. Your vote is your voice. Every vote matters because every future is shaped by those who show up. Let’s show up, Texas. 🇺🇸 #VoteTexas

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Appreciation isn’t just words. It’s action. This week, stand with educators— for respect, fair pay, and a real voice. Porque la verdadera apreciación… requiere acción. #ThankATeacher #TeacherAppreciationWeek #AppreciationMeansAction #OneJobShouldBeEnough

Happy 50th Birthday to my beautiful wife, Patty. ❤️ Your courage, compassion, brilliance, and love inspire everyone around you. An incredible mother, educator, mentor, and partner. I’m beyond blessed to share this life with you. Celebrating 50 amazing years of you today. Feliz cumpleaños, mi amor!

The Supreme Court of the United States just gutted a core protection of the Voting Rights Act. This will make it harder for Black & Brown communities to challenge discrimination in voting. Representation is a promise—not a privilege. We organize. We fight back.

Proud to stand with the Sheridan Educators Association from Colorado (@coloradoea.bsky.social). After a year without a contract, they’re fighting for safe schools, stability, and respect. Watch. Share. Stand with Sheridan educators. #Solidarity #UnionStrong @neatoday.bsky.social

Heading back to TX for the TSTA Delegate Assembly. The headlines we’ve seen—cuts, closures, larger class sizes—are the result of years of underfunding. As educators, we have a professional & moral responsibility to organize with our communities & change it by electing a new #TxLege majority. #TxEd

Today we honor Jackie Robinson—who showed courage can change the game. Baseball teaches us: it’s not just talent, it’s what you do with it. In our pursuit of a more just union, we’re called to that same courage. We’ve come a long way—but we’re not done yet. More innings to play. ⚾✊🏽

Easter reminds us: hope is not passive—it calls us to act. In the Jesuit tradition, faith demands justice, compassion, and courage. In a time of division, we choose dignity. In a time of fear, we choose love. In a time of uncertainty, we choose hope. Christ is risen. Now we rise—with purpose. ✝️

As a HS teacher, I used to take my students to read at nearby elementary schools during NEA’s #ReadAcrossAmerica week. Full-circle magic. Today at Cardinal: • Every kinder got We Are Definitely Human • Every 1st grader got Mistaco Reading in Spanglish. Big joy. Kids seen. nea.org/readacross 📚

I voted. Yo voté. 🇺🇸 As a proud bilingual Texan, I love this sticker. It represents a country still working to live up to its promises. Our past didn’t always include all of us. Voting is how we shape a future that does. Drop your sticker below 👇🏽 #IVoted #YoVote #Texas

We voted today — as parents and educators. Public schools shape our kids’ futures and the future of Texas. The March Primary decides who makes the November ballot for governor, U.S. Senate, and offices that impact our schools. 🗳 Early voting through Feb 27 🗳 March 3 Show up for students.

The real decision happens in March. In Texas, you choose which party primary to vote in when you show up. Research the ballots. Ask who benefits from their tax policies. Early voting Feb 17–27. Election Day March 3. This isn’t 🟥 vs 🟦. It’s the top vs the rest of us. Together, We Build Power.

As a public school parent + educator: I teach democracy, not obedience. The Boston Tea Party was illegal — now we call it patriotism. When students protest, education is working. Using state power to punish schools for that is authoritarian overreach. Dissent is American. Silence is not.

Boston Tea Party truth we must teach honestly: It was illegal. That’s the point. Protest has always challenged unjust power — and today is no different. Protest is American. Silencing dissent is not. #TeachTheTruth #ProtestIsAmerican

Governor Abbott said “recalibrate.” We agree. Let’s recalibrate the Governor’s Mansion-starting in March, finish in November.🗳️

🕯️❄️ NEA MLT/WLT-West Tonight. In the snow. Together. Educators and community members across the country are lighting our lights in solidarity with Minnesota. 📍 Step outside. 🕯️ Shine a light. #ShineALight #StandWithMinnesota #ICEOutNow @neatoday.bsky.social @educationmn.bsky.social

💙 Wearing blue for Minnesota. Schools should be safe—not places of fear. Students deserve to learn without intimidation. ICE out of our schools, in MN and everywhere. #WearBlueForMN #ICEOutOfSchools

Day 3 at CNTE offered a warning rooted in history. Educators from across Latin America connected past repression to today’s attacks on academic freedom and unions—often disguised as “neutrality” or “reform.” This is why educators organize. Public education is democracy in action.

Day 2 at CNTE in Brazil, educators chanted: “FORA TRUMP DA AMÉRICA LATINA” — Trump out of Latin America. A message rooted in lived experience. Education isn’t neutral. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. When educators organize globally, authoritarianism loses ground. ✊🏽🌎

Day 1 at the 35th CNTE Congress: democracy is fragile, public education is under attack, & educators are on the frontlines. From Brazil to the U.S., we’re resisting privatization & authoritarianism—together. Educators don’t just teach democracy. We defend it. ✊🏽📚🌎 #PublicEducation #Democracy

Happy New Year 2026 🎉 May we move forward with empathy, dignity, joy, and care for one another—rooted in our shared humanity.

Proud and humbled to receive the early endorsement of TNT–The Northern Tier (AK, ID, MT, ND, SD, WY) and NCUEA (National Council of Urban Education Associations) for my candidacy to serve as the next Vice President of the National Education Association. Together, we build power. ✊🏼