About TRTA
Founded in 1953, the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is the largest association in the nation for retired teachers with a history of active involvement in the well-being of their communities!

A Better Life By Association

TRTA has more than 96,000 members who continue to be involved in local public school education and in the well-being of their communities. In 2023, TRTA members contributed 5,233,757 hours of community service, valued at $133,303,791.

In addition, the TRTA Children’s Book Project, which began in 1998, has involved TRTA local chapter members in giving books to children who might not otherwise have books of their own. Since the inception of the book project, more than 900,000 books have been placed into the hands of children who otherwise might never have a book to call their own. In 2023, 143,870 books were distributed as part of the Children’s Book Project and the Student to Student Book Program.

We turned 71 in 2024, but our roots stretch back even further. There were six local retired teachers association chapters organized in Texas by the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA): El Paso in 1945; Dallas in 1949; Fort Worth in 1950; Houston in 1951; San Antonio in 1952; and Austin in 1952.

Sixty-five of the 200 members of these six local chapters attended the NRTA convention in Miami Beach, Florida, with her guidance they planned a state organization to be known as the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA). Officers were nominated and a meeting was scheduled for November 27, 1953.

At the November 27, 1953 meeting in Dallas, the nominated officers were elected, a constitution and bylaws were adopted, and the first convention was held in November of 1954.

In the early years of TRTA, it was not financially practical to make provisions for a headquarters office. The first presidents kept the files and records of the TRTA in their homes. Construction of TRTA’s permanent headquarters in downtown Austin on Trinity Street was completed in 2004, a mere 200 steps from the East door of the historic Texas Capitol.

WHat People Are Saying

What We Can Offer You

TRTA boasts the professional, institutional, legislative, and stakeholder expertise necessary to be the go-to advocacy organization for all current and future TRS retirees!

TRTA staff members are motivated, experienced, friendly, and hard-working.

TRTA’s office is in downtown Austin, Texas. We are just minutes from the east door of the historic Texas Capitol.

TRTA has an empowered Board of Directors who are all Texas TRS retirees. They believe in public education, the legacy that our retirees represent, and do all they can to ensure this association provides excellent value for all its members.

Our quarterly bulletin informs you about all the latest TRTA news and highlights the good that our members accomplish every day. Find our eye-catching, informative fact sheets in The VOICE and send them to your legislators or share them with fellow retirees and active educators!

Subscribe to our e-newsletter about pension, health care, and election news, featuring legislative action alerts that allow you to contact your legislator when urgent matters–such as a bill coming up for a vote–arise!

We keep you up to speed with our video updates, everything from live weekly legislative news updates with Executive Director Tim Lee, to heartwarming features about our members, to training videos that help you communicate more effectively with your elected officials. Visit our YouTube channel to learn more.

Other Topics to Explore

Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

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Standing Committees

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Standing Committees

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TRTA Staff

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TRTA Staff

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