History of Apprenticeship Endorsement Committee

The education of Athletic Trainers has always been a priority for the State leadership since the inception of Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA) and Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association (TSATA).Our founding fathers and mothers had learning objectives for the education of students in order to promote and enhance the development of the Texas licensure program.

In 2017, the Regional Directors of the Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association (TSATA) and the Executive Director, Michael “Spanky” Stephens asked Mr. Dennis Hart and Mr. Randell “Randy” Matthews to co-chair this initiative to address “the language of the Texas Athletic Trainers’ Practice Act, and review the educational requirements of the practice act.”Mr. Hart and Mr. Matthews invited several athletic trainers from different regions across the State of Texas to join this endeavor.The members of the educational task force were Randy Matthews (co-chair), Bubba Wilson, Sandy Miller, Brian Farr, Dr. Shandra Esparza, Dr. Steve Simpson, Dr. Stephanie Jevas, and Sherry Ann Miller.After two years of discussion and meetings, and suggestions from the Practice Act Task Force, the leadership of TSATA and Mr. Stephens created a new standing committee to address apprenticeship education.TSATA leadership ask Mr. Billy Ray Laxton to chair this newly formed committee.

On January 7, 2018 at Georgetown Eastview High School, a town hall meeting was held with prospective universities and colleges stakeholders to discuss the different aspects of apprenticeship education.

The first committee meeting was in December 2018.Initial committee members were Mr. Billy Ray Laxton (chair), Mr. Ed Sunderland, Dr. Lorna Strong, Ms. Tori Tenney, Mr. Daryl Hausam, Mr. Ernie Feisner, and Ms. Sherry Ann Miller.During this initial meeting, we decided to develop learning objectives that the committee deem as Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).We feel that these learning objectives are the minimal requirements that every athletic trainer should possess upon graduation from a four-year university program.After several discussions and meetings, the committee decide to purse what the committee refers to as the “Apprenticeship Endorsement Program.”After much discussion of the Board of TSATA and the Executive Director of TSATA, the “Apprenticeship Endorsement Program” was approved, and is being actively promoted and encouraged by the TSATA and the committee members.

In June of 2019, the committee members (Billy Ray Laxton, Ed Sunderland, Daryl Hausam, Dr. Lorna Strong, and Bubba Wilson) and the Executive Director of TSATA met with designers from ATrack.This meeting established the committee’s direction to facilitate and incorporate this software into the Apprenticeship Endorsement Program.This electronic database is to “be the repository” for all of the endorsement programs documents and housing of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) that the committee developed for universities/colleges and ultimately the test writers to use when developing “test questions” for the licensure exam.

July 2019, during the Texas Forum Mr. Laxton presented the “Apprenticeship Endorsement Program”.This was one of the first discussions with constitutes from the state.

Due to electronic capabilities during 2020 - 2021, the committee was able to develop the KSAs, requirements, ATrack understanding and member capability to use, and meet regularly due to “Zoom” meetings.At this time the committee decided to ask TSATA leadership to ask the regional directors to appoint people from their region to assist with the promotion of the “Apprenticeship Endorsement Program”.

April 3, 2022 a webinar was held to explain and promote the “Apprenticeship Endorsement Program” to universities and colleges stakeholders.

Committee members are Billy Ray Laxton (chair), Ed Sunderland (retired July 2022), Dr. Lorna Strong, Dr. Andrea Johnston Green, Brian Farr, Bubba Wilson, Sonya Mikeska, Daryl Hausam, and Sherry Ann Miller (co-chair).Sub-committee members are Region 1 – Scott Smelser, Region 2 – John Overton, Region 3 – Sarah Baulch, Region 4 – Jeff Smith, Region 5 – Mike Waters, Region 6 – Joseph Eberhardt, Region 7 – Daryl Hausam, Region 8 – Nydia Cabra, and Region 9 – Mandolyn Peterson.

As of July 2024, committee members are Billy Ray Laxton (chair), Dr. Andi Johnston Green, Dr. Lorna Strong, Sonya Mikeska, Brain Farr, Bubba Wilson, Daryl Hausam, Dennis Hart, and Sherry Ann Miller (co-chair)

The Promotion sub-committee members are Region 1 – Scott Smelser, Region 2 – TBD, Region 3 – Sarah Baulch, Region 4 – Jeff Smith, Region 5 – Mike Waters, Region 6 – Joseph Eberhardt, Region 7 – Daryl Hausam, Region 8 – Dr. Nydia Cabra, and Region 9 – TBD.

The Advocacy sub-committee members are Dennis Hart, Randy Matthews, Casey Reed, Mark Gilbert, Jeff Bass, Jeff Darr, Mike Waters, Ryan Pena, Billy Ray Laxton, Chad Helberg, and Frank Parker