Fund Education Grant Gives Hutto ISD Risk Manager Tools to Better Serve Staff

Navigating personnel issues like assault leave, workers' compensation, and HIPAA are among the most challenging parts of the job for Hutto ISD Risk Management Coordinator Emily Cook. So when she had the opportunity to learn from HR and legal experts at no cost to her district through the Fund Education Grant, Emily jumped at the chance to deepen her knowledge.

The grant empowered Fund members to invest in specialized training provided by reputable experts despite budget constraints. Emily applied her grant toward HR Academy and Get a Grip on FMLA.

Co-sponsored d by TASB HR services and the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators, HR Academy covers foundational topics such as grievances, employee investigations, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the many forms of employee leave.

Get a Grip on FMLA is a two-day TASB HR Services workshop that uses real situations to teach attendees how to apply FMLA regulations, identify potential problem areas, and develop procedures for administering family and medical leave. 

"By getting into the nitty gritty of HR concepts, rules, and regulations, I'm better prepared to look at our processes at Hutto ISD and make sure we're doing everything we can to support our staff. Doing our best for our employees helps us recruit quality talent and ensure kids receive a quality education."

Risk management is a diverse field, and Emily's responsibilities aren't limited to leave and benefits. That's why she also joined the inaugural cohort of the Fund's Risk Management 101 program. Designed for school employees who recently assumed risk management responsibilities, the program gave participants an overview of core topics such as risk financing, liability basics, cybersecurity, and hazard identification and analysis.

For Emily, professional development is a lifelong commitment. The Fund is here to support its members with a robust offering of virtual, in-person, and on-demand training. In fact, members benefit from hundreds of courses easily accessed through the PublicSchoolWORKS learning management system,

"I don't think anyone is ever done learning," said Emily. "The Fund provides great opportunities to learn and grow. I think that speaks to a commitment to wanting the best for its members."