Brownsville Area Retired School Employees Association

Today, we celebrate the educators who shaped our lives and continue to inspire future generations.

The Texas Retired Teachers Association is proud to stand alongside our friends in the active community, including ATPE, to support those who dedicated their careers to Texas classrooms. Together, we helped achieve meaningful victories, like the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), and securing a long-awaited cost-of-living increase in 2023 for retired educators.

These milestones reflect the power of educators’ voices, past and present, working together to create lasting change.

To every teacher, retired and active: thank you for your service, your passion, and your impact.

TRTA/District 1 officers celebrating with LARSEA at their 50th anniversary celebration.

Pictures from Thursday's TRTA/BARSEA Meeting. Meeting was presided by BARSEA President Josie C. Villarreal. Keynote speaker was Mary Elizabeth Hollmann, Master Gardener. The BARSEA Bunch performed by singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head." Birthdays were celebrated and door prizes were given out. Check out the BARSEA Website for more information.

Today we are considering health plan administrators for TRS-ActiveCare, TRS-Care Standard and TRS-Care Medicare Advantage. Find out more at https://ow.ly/FgR850Yexlq

TRTA-BARSEA February Meeting. The meeting was a joyous Valentine, Heart Month Event. However, it was sad as our BARSEA Secretary, Maribel Martinez and her husband BARSEA member, Jose Luis Martinez lost their son Jose Luis Martinez, II and their daughter-in-law, Dr. Ashley Garza, M.D. in a tragic accident last week. Our deep condolences to the Martinez and Garza families.
BARSEA President, Josie C. Villarreal presented the guest speaker for the meeting, Cardiologist, Dr. Jaime Silva, M.D., P.A.
BARSEA held a Scholarship Fundraiser Silent Auction chaired by 1st Vice-President, Nelda Rocha and 2nd Vice-President Nellie Arizmendi. Thank you to all the members that contributed items for the auction and to all the members who bid on the items.

Pictures from yesterday's TRTA/BARSEA Meeting.

Active Teachers that are planning to retire in the near future, you are invited to attend the BARSEA sponsored TRS Retirement Seminar on February 7th. Please register.

TRTA/BARSEA meeting on December 11, 2025. Celebrating BARSEA's 55th Anniversary. A memorial was held for those members that we lost in since November, 2024 to the present day. Maria Luisa Vasquez and Sylvia Suarez were recognized a being the members that have been BARSEA Members the longest. Sylvia has served as Legislative Chairperson and was named Member of the Year in 2005 and Maria Luisa served as secretary from 1999 to 2003 when Ann Buchanan was president. For more information on the meeting, please visit the BARSEA Website. The newsletter will be posted next week.