- Early bird tickets are $25 and will be sold between October 29th until November 30th.
- Regular tickets are $35 and will be sold between December 1st until January 10th.
- Last-minute tickets are $50 and will be sold on January 11th until January 24th (day of).
- Students are free; please register with a university email address (.edu).
For all attendees traveling in from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, or San Antonio, the bus is the only form of transport available that Teach For America is covering.
(sponsorship is now closed) For attendees traveling in from the RGV, you can apply for financial assistance to have lodging and transportation covered.
For all other attendees traveling in from other cities, we unfortunately do not have any transportation options available.
- DALLAS-FORT WORTH | 3000 Pegasus Park Dr., Dallas, TX 75247
HOUSTON | 2 Greenway Plaza, Houston, TX 77046
DALLAS-FORT WORTH
HOUSTON
SAN ANTONIO
Friday Morning: We will provide bagels and fruit on the bus. Participants should bring their own beverages in spill-proof containers.
Friday Afternoon: Lunch will be provided at the Texas Education Symposium.
Friday Evening: We will provide dinner boxes on the bus from a locally owned business and will have a cooler with canned soda/sparkling water. Please refill your water bottle at the conference center before heading to the bus!
DALLAS FORT WORTH
HOUSTON
Frequently Asked Questions
Attending the Symposium
| Question: When and where is this event taking place? |
| The Texas Education Symposium 2025 will be taking place on Friday, January 24th, 2025 from 8:30am – 4pm. It will be hosted at the Commons Conference Center (10100 Burnet Rd Building 137, Austin, TX 78758). |
| Question: What is the cost of entry for attendees? |
| Answer:
|
| Question: What if I cannot afford the entry fee for this event? |
| Answer: If you are unable to afford the entry fee but would like to attend the symposium, please click here and complete the financial assistance form. All submissions must be completed by 11:59pm CST on December 6, 2024. You will be notified the following week about your financial assistance status. |
| Question: Who can attend? |
| Answer: Anyone can attend, as long as you have registered and purchased a ticket! |
| Question: Can I bring a guest(s) with me? |
| Answer: Yes, we’d love for you to bring your network with you. They will need to register and purchase a ticket on the website in order to enter! |
| Question: What if I cannot stay for the entirety of the symposium? |
| Answer: We’d love for you to still join us, even if you have to leave early! Unfortunately, ticket prices are set, and we cannot offer partial rates for those leaving early or arriving late. |
| Question: What if I cannot arrive until later in the day after registration/check-in is over? |
| Answer: We’d love for you to still join us, even if you are arriving later! Although registration may be over, we’ll still have a check-in desk where you can get your name tag and session information. Unfortunately, ticket prices are set, and we cannot offer partial rates for those leaving early or arriving late. |
| Question: What meals will be served? |
| Answer: A continental breakfast with pastries, fresh cut fruit, coffee, hot tea, and juice will be available during registration. Coffee will be served again mid-morning. Lunch will be brisket and chicken served with garden salad, potato salad, pinto beans, sliced bread, seasonal relish tray and cobbler. For those who have requested a vegetarian/vegan meal, there will be a separate option available. An afternoon refreshment will also be provided. |
| Question: If I have a dietary restriction, how do I notify someone of this? |
| Answer: You should have indicated this when registering on the website. Additionally, we are capturing dietary restrictions for all attendees who need transportation support. If you did not indicate this or are unsure, please email Velma Man at velma.man@teachforamerica.org to share your dietary restrictions. |
Programming
| Question: How is the day structured? |
| Answer: To learn more about the activities and agenda for the day, you can go to our "2025 Agenda” tab on the website to learn more! |
| Question: How can I opt-in to specific breakout sessions? Who is leading these sessions? |
| Answer: When you register for the Symposium online, you will have the opportunity to select your desired breakout sessions. To learn more about breakout sessions and speakers, please visit the "2025 Agenda" tab on the website. |
Transportation
| Question: Where do we park if we are driving our cars? |
| Answer: Guests who are driving their own vehicles will need to park at the Commons Conference Center parking lots (10100 Burnet Road - Building 137, Austin, TX 78758). There are two lots; one is off of James Hart Trail and the other is off of C.P. Boner Road. You will need to print the parking permit and place it on the dash of your car. ADA accessible spaces are located in all parking lots. Do not park in any spaces marked “University Vehicles at all times.” To access and print your permit, click here. This document also has a map to support you with locating the parking lots. |
| Question: What other forms of transportation is Teach For America covering to get to the Symposium? |
| Answer:
|
| Question: Where are we meeting if we are taking the bus? Where do I park my car? |
| Answer: We will meet at each city’s Teach For America office and guests are welcome to park their vehicles in the offices’ parking lots. As with any parking lot, please ensure that you do not leave valuables in your car, lock your doors, and ensure your vehicle’s lights are off. Teach For America is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced items.
(Enter the parking lot via Lakawana St. and park in the rear rows near the bus.) Guest parking lot directly across from building 2. Enter from Richmond Ave. |
| Question: What time are we departing, and what time will we get back? |
| Answer:
We will depart from the TFA DFW office building by 5:45am. Please arrive by 5:30am to park, check-in with your bus captain, and settle in. We will depart from The Commons Conference Center in Austin at 4pm. You should anticipate arriving at the TFA DFW office building around 7:30pm. We will depart from the TFA Houston office building by 6:00 am. Please arrive by 5:45 am to park, check-in with your bus captain, and settle in. We will depart from The Commons Conference Center in Austin at 4 pm. You should anticipate arriving at the TFA Houston office building around 7:00 pm. We will depart from the TFA San Antonio office building by 7:15 a.m. Please arrive by 7:00 a.m. to park, check-in with your bus captain, and settle in. We will depart from The Commons Conference Center in Austin at 4 p.m. You should anticipate arriving at the TFA San Antonio office building around 6:00 p.m. |
| Question: What happens if I miss the bus? |
| Answer: Given our tight schedule, we are unable to postpone departure and will leave on time. Guests who miss their scheduled departure should plan to provide their own transportation to and from Austin. Given our tight schedule, we are unable to postpone departure and will leave on time. Guests who miss their scheduled departure should plan to provide their own transportation to and from Austin. |
| Question: Will there be any restroom breaks or stops during the ride? |
| Answer: We will have more information about restroom breaks or stops once we land on a definitive headcount for each city and determine the type of bus we will rent. For charter buses with a restroom, we will not stop given our tight schedule. For smaller, private buses, we will be able to make a quick stop along the way. If you have a medical reason that requires more frequent stops, please make sure you have indicated this on your transportation form. |
| Question: What amenities are on the bus? |
| Answer: We will have more information about bus amenities once we land on a definitive headcount for each city and determine the type of bus we will rent. |
| Question: Will food be provided on the bus ride there and back? |
| Answer:
|
| Question: Who do I contact in case of emergencies related to bus/transportation? |
| Answer: Each city will have their own bus captain. Please refer to the contact information below if you need to reach out to your bus captain with questions or changes to your plans. Cameron Hedden cameron.hedden@commitpartnership.org 502.320.4371 Tavia Talton Tavia.talton@teachforamerica.org 713.309.6245 |
RGV Attendee Transportation & Housing
| Question: How can I apply for transportation and housing support if I am coming from the RGV? When will I know that my application has been approved? |
| Answer: Although we would love to cover transportation and housing for all RGV attendees, we have the funds to cover only 5 individuals. To receive transportation and housing financial support, you will need to apply and complete this form by 11:59pm CST on November 17, 2024. Submissions after this date will not be accepted unless special permission is granted by a Teach For America staff member. Those who have applied will be notified by November 22nd, 2024 of their application status. Please note that this sponsorship does not cover the fee for entry. |
| Question: Where will we be meeting? Where can we park? |
| Answer: You will need to provide your own transportation to the airport or park there. TFA will not be covering this expense. |
| Question: What time is the flight? |
| Answer: Although it would be ideal for everyone to fly in/out at the same time, personal schedules can conflict. Velma Man will coordinate with those receiving transportation and housing support to land on the departure airport and time. |
Transportation While in the City
| Question: What are my options while traveling in Austin if I do not have a car? |
| Answer: We recommend using Uber or Lyft, although there are many areas in Austin that are walkable. |
| Question: Are there any Uber or Lyft codes while I am commuting throughout the city during my stay? |
| Answer: We are currently working on a partnership with Uber and Lyft to bring you promo codes to lessen any financial burdens as you travel throughout the city. As we get more information, we’ll update this FAQ sheet accordingly. |
Hotel/Lodging
| Question: Is housing provided? |
| Answer: Although housing is not provided, we have secured a courtesy block at the Hyatt Place Austin Arboretum/Domain Area (3612 Tudor Blvd., Austin, TX 78759). This block allows you to book a room at this hotel for any and all evenings from January 23rd – January 25th, 2025. The courtesy block will be released on December 26th, 2024; please note that any room requests made after this date will be subject to their standard rates. To take advantage of the courtesy block, you can either call 1-877-242-3654 or visit the booking link. Please provide reference group code: G-CTFA if requested. |
| Question: What if we want to arrive earlier or stay longer? |
| Answer: Please reference the bullet point above. |
| Question: What food and entertainment options are near the hotel? |
| Answer: Located in North Austin, you are just a few minutes drive away from The Domain, a shopping center that features 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores and restaurants. The Domain is considered Austin’s second downtown with a lot of options for eating and entertainment. To learn more about what is located near the hotel, please click here. |
| Question: Where do I park at the hotel? What is the cost of parking? |
| Answer: Complimentary parking is available in the front, back, and side parking lots. If you have any questions, please reach out to the hotel directly at 512-231-8491. |
| Question: Are there amenities at the hotel? |
| Answer: A full complimentary breakfast is offered daily at the hotel. There is also a small restaurant on-site; if you prefer room service, you can call the front desk to place your order. Additionally, they have a business center, a bar, an outdoor heated pool, and on-site laundry room. |
| Question: Am I allowed to stay at another hotel? |
| Answer: Yes, you can certainly stay at another hotel. Please be advised that we have not secured a courtesy block with a discounted rate at any other hotel, so you will need to reach out to other hotels on your own. |
General Question Contact Information
| Question: Who do I contact for general questions before the symposium? |
| Answer: Velma Man, Managing Director of Stewardship and Operations |
| Question: Who do I contact for general questions on the day of the symposium? |
| Answer: Julia Durodoye, Vice President of Field Fundraising 540.632.7821 OR Nicole Seltman, Senior Managing Director of Alumni Leadership and Impact 512.417.1784 |