Henderson County Retired School Personnel Association

05/21/2025

Henderson County Retired School Personnel Association (HCRSPA) awarded scholarships to six graduating seniors from Henderson County high schools at their May 14th meeting. The students all aspire to become teachers and/or coaches, and they each excel academically.

From Athens High School, Eden Carnes received a $2,000 scholarship, funded by HCRSPA’s grant from the Cain Foundation; Cloey Peters received a $2,000 scholarship, donated in memory of Dan Bennett and Mack Gore; and Kylee Dodd received a $1,000 scholarship, donated in memory of Inez and Bill Green.

Adriana Estrada, from LaPoynor High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from HCRSPA.
Bradie Cooper, from Brownsboro High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from HCRSPA.
Skyler Skinner, from Eustace High School, received a $2,000 scholarship, funded by HCRSPA’s grant from Operation Round Up/TVEC Charitable Foundation.

Pictured from left are Eden Carnes, AHS; Cloey Peters, AHS; Kylee Dodd, AHS; Adriana Estrada, LaPoynor HS and Bradie Cooper, Brownsboro HS. (Not shown – Skyler Skinner, Eustace HS)

05/13/2025

Our May meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14, in the Modern Worship Center at Athens First Methodist Church. This meeting will begin at 12 noon with a luncheon honoring our six scholarship winners from Henderson County high schools, followed by our regular business meeting. All of the winners plan to study education in college and become teachers.

This is our last meeting until September. For more information, contact us at hendersoncrspa@gmail.com.

Send a message to learn more

04/30/2025

Athens Mayor Aaron 'Bubba' Smith spoke at our April 9th meeting, providing us with updates on projects going on in the city, including capital improvements and new hotels as well as housing and apartment developments.

We also heard a presentation from Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims outlining the projects the School District hopes to accomplish with the passage of the Athens ISD Bond. Early voting ended April 29, but May 3 is Election Day.

City Councilman Cody Craig also spoke in support of the School Bond, highlighting the personal impact the School District has had on his own family.

04/08/2025

Athens Mayor Aaron Smith, Athens ISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims and Athens ISD Toni Clay will be speaking at the HCRSPA meeting this Wednesday, April 9, at 2 pm, in the Modern Worship Center of Athens First Methodist Church. Mayor Smith will be bringing us up to date on what's going on in Athens. Dr. Sims and Toni Clay will be speaking to us about the upcoming school bond election.

Refreshments will be served beginning at 1:30. Please feel free to join us.

Send a message to learn more

10/15/2024

Congressman Lance Gooden, U.S. Representative for Texas’s 5th Congressional District, was the guest speaker at the October 9 meeting of Henderson County Retired School Personnel Association (HCRSPA). Congressman Gooden updated the group on the progress of HR82
which seeks to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Those two provisions partially, if not completely, eliminate Social Security benefits for persons who retired from employment not covered by Social Security, such as Texas teachers, even if part of their careers were spent at employment covered by Social Security. It also prevents most of those retirees from receiving spousal benefits or widow(er) benefits for a spouse who spent their career at employment covered by Social Security. Congressman Gooden also updated the group on some of the other matters going on in our nation’s capital.

HCRSPA meets on the second Wednesday of each month, September – May, at Athens First Methodist Church. Anyone who is a retired public school employee – teacher, para-professional, administrator, maintenance worker and others – is invited to join us.

Pictured are HCRSPA President Jan Bennett, Rep. Lance Gooden, and HCRSPA Legislative Committee Co-Chair Lynn Hoover.

09/30/2024

Our October meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 9, in the Modern Worship Center at Athens First Methodist Church beginning with refreshments at 1:30 pm followed by the meeting at 2 pm. We are excited to have our U.S. Representative Lance Gooden as our guest speaker.

Anyone who is a retired public school employee - teacher, para-professional, administrator, maintenance worker and others - as well as anyone who is interested in supporting retired public school employees, is welcome to join us.

HCRSPA was founded on September 25, 1974, and has been active in Athens and Henderson County as a service organization through its Scholarships, Books for Children and Community Service programs for the past 50 years. For more information about HCRSPA, please email us at hendersoncrspa@gmail.com.

Send a message to learn more

09/16/2024

A big THANK YOU goes out to Brookshire's for donating this wonderful cake for our 50th Anniversary celebration!

09/16/2024

State Representative Keith Bell presented a Certificate of Congratulations from the Texas Legislature for HCRSPA's 50th Anniversary to HCRSPA President Jan Bennett.

09/16/2024

Here's a look back at some of the 50 years of memories for HCRSPA.

09/16/2024

Texas State Representative Keith Bell commented on issues he would like to see addressed in the coming Legislative session at our 50th Anniversary celebration on September 11.

09/16/2024

Longtime member Dorothy Wasunyk enjoyed her reunion with TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee at our 50th Anniversary celebration.

09/16/2024

We were fortunate that Athens Mayor Aaron "Bubba" Smith was able to attend our 50th Anniversary celebration luncheon. Member Linda Kenneaster enjoyed talking with him.