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The Municipal Court Clerk Certification Program is sponsored by the Texas
Court Clerks Association in cooperation with the Texas Municipal Courts
Association, Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, and Texas State
University. The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center is funded by a
grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Municipal Court Clerk Certification
17th Edition
FY 2017-2018
End of Year Report Prepared by:
Tracie Glaeser,
Program Coordinator
Robby Chapman,
Program Director
Hope Lochridge,
Executive Director
Valerie Chavez,
TCCA Intern
Lily Pebworth,
Communications
Assistant
Inside this report: page
Assessment Clinic 25
CMCC– Level III 4
Exams 5
Exam Evaluation-
Level I & II 12-19
Exam Evaluation-
Level II 20-24
Goals 26-27
Growth Statistics 2
Intern Report 28
Participation
Numbers 2
Prep Sessions 3
Prep Session
Evaluations-Level I 6-8
Prep Session
Evaluation-Level II 9-11
Renewals 3
“What you do speaks so loud that I cannot
hear what you say”.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
FY2018 Participation (As of August 31, 2018)
Page 2 End of Year Report
Growth In Total Participation
This year, we once again experienced a sub-
stantial increase in Level III. The assessment
clinic attendees increased from 24 partici-
pants in FY17 to 27 in FY18. TMCEC received
22 journals during FY18. Of the 22 new jour-
nals, 9 were returned for revisions and 2 of
those were later resubmitted, and 13 have
passed the journal phase and achieved Level
III. Of the 93 Level III clerks, 73 remain active
in municipal courts and 20 have become inac-
tive or no longer work in the court field.
The chart above shows annual participation
increases within individual levels. The graph
to the upper left is a snapshot of program
growth trend since 2009. The graph to the
lower left displays total participation by year.
There has been a 5.62% decrease in overall
participation in FY18.
The decrease may be a direct correlation to
the continued drop in Class C case filings
causing position reduction in courts across
the state. TMCEC trained more than 360 new
clerks in FY18. Clerks who took the Level I
exam immediately after the July New Clerks
School received an average score of 80%.
71% of the new clerks who took the exam
passed and achieved their Level I.
In FY18,
504 cities
participating
in the
Certification
Program, an
6.5% increase
from FY17, a
33% increase
from FY16
Newly Certified
in
FY 16
Newly Certified
in
FY 17
Newly Certified
in
FY 18
% Change
from FY 17
All Certified Clerks
Ending 8/31/18
Level I
Certified 172 138 145
+5.07%
650
Level II
Certified 79 53 61
+13.21%
483
Level III
Certified 2 13 15
+15.38%
93
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Annual Participation by Level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Total Certification Participation Year
This was the last year of Prep Sessions at regional seminars before they were moved to the TCCA chapter
level training. These sessions offer a review of the subject matter presented on the exam as well as a
practice test. The new teaching methods have been well received. Attendance has varied over the years
as seen in the chart below. Dates, locations, and attendance are listed as compared to prior years.
Preparation Sessions
Page 3 End of Year Report
Date Location Level I Level II
10/23/2017 Longview 9 4
11/14/2017 Austin 12 6
01/08/2018 San Antonio 14 12
01/22/2018 Galveston 10 9
02/11/2018 Houston 12 9
03/05/2018 Addison 35 29
03/26/2018 San Antonio 0 0
04/02/2018 Lubbock 12 5
04/30/2018 South Padre Island 11 2
06/04/2018 El Paso 4 3
06/25/2018 San Antonio 8 8
Totals for FY 2018 127 87
Totals for FY 17 148 125
Totals for FY 16 121 86
Totals for FY 15 191 54
Totals for FY 14 113 93
The capacity to learn is a
gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the
willingness to learn is a
choice.
-Brian Herbert
Certifications
Lost FY 17
Fail to Renew
FY 17
Certifications
Lost FY 18
Fail to Renew
FY 18
Certifications
Lost FY 16
Fail to Renew
FY 16
Active 6 21 13 35 4 22
Inactive 101 80 83 70 61 96
Certification Status
Active Certified Municipal Court Clerks (Level III) *This section is in chronological order through 8/31/18
Page 4 FY 2017-2018
1 Jennifer Sullivan 26 Lei Holder 51 Christine Valdovino 76 Tiffany Totah
2 Connie Crenshaw 27 Bonnie Townsend 52 Jannell Williams 77 Erin Westmoreland
3 Alicia St. Cyr 28 Lisa Howard 53 Jaime Brew 78 Amy Baldwin
4 Susie Garcia 29 Dianna Faulkenberry 54 Karen Armstrong 79 Jennifer Hale
5 Janell Kucera 30 Terri Neal 55 Linda Rose 80 Paul Rex
6 Luevada Posey 31 Amy Bockes 56 Brittany Rychlick 81 Brittany Wright
7 Carol Gauntt 32 Pam Folsom 57 Courtney Powers-Acklin 82 Rosena J. Becker-Ross
8 Christy Punches Dyer 33 Jo Sacharko 58 Sherry Brandt 83 Kimberly Jozwiak
9 Kathryn Wells-Vogel 34 Parlee Norton 59 Patty Stav 84 Angela Fleming
10 Jeanie Roumell 35 Luanne Anders 60 Rosemary Bell 85 Debbie Landrum
11 Tracie Glaeser 36 Cathrine Leloux 61 Melissa Strickland 86 Kendra Beverly
12 Julie Kubeczka-Day 37 Teresa Borcik 62 Shannon Wagner 87 Laurence Glick
13 Karen Renfrow 38 Rachel Frasier 63 Kaylee Brune 88 Courtney Broussard
14 Phyllis Mathison 39 Leona Clay 64 Valerie Bryant 89 Abril Lamb
15 Cynthia Wells 40 Rene Moses 65 Claudia Lemon 90 Jacob Wetzel
16 Deborah Jessup 41 Fawn Mackey 66 Sarah Friberg 91 Amanda Cox
17 Krystal Strong 42 Clifton Deryl Corley 67 Christina Dahse 92 Melinda Weller
18 Rhonda Kuehn 43 Kimberly Kierce 68 Lisa Davis 93 Jennifer Dorsett
19 Maria Busche 44 Lesa Keith 69 Lee Ann Oliver 94 Claudia Quentero
20 Elaine Brown 45 Delena Franklin 70 Jessica Utton
21 Elaine Bourgoin 46 April Christiansen 71 Sally Forbus
22 Amanda Degan 47 Jennifer Bozorgnia 72 Janis Fletcher
23 Cathy Haney 48 Mary Jane Grubb 73 Carla Bonham
24 Pat Riffel 49 Bobbie Spence 74 Patti Jo Towne
25 Helen Wo 50 Landra Hudson-Solansky 75 Jeremy Leonard
TMCEC and TCCA
work together in fa-
cilitating exams at
TMCEC events. Each
site offers all 3 levels
of the exams. This
list provides exam
locations and testing
statistics for TMCEC
events in FY18.
Scheduled testing dates and locations for fiscal year 2019 are listed below.
Exams
Page 5 FY 2017-2018
Date Location Level I Level II Level III Total
09/15/2017 TMCEC Office 1 1 1 3
10/20/2017 TMCEC Office 2 1 2 5
10/25/2017 Longview 5 4 0 9
11/16/2017 Austin 8 7 3 18
12/15/2017 Austin 19 6 0 25
01/10/2018 San Antonio 11 7 0 18
01/24/2018 Galveston 5 13 4 22
02/01/2018 Austin 0 2 6 8
02/09/2018 McAllen 0 1 0 1
02/13/2018 Houston 15 14 5 34
03/07/2018 Addison 37 28 3 68
03/23/2018 TMCEC Office 1 4 4 9
03/28/2018 Traffic Safety 5 5 3 13
04/04/2018 Lubbock 5 4 0 9
04/20/2018 TMCEC Office 3 2 0 5
05/02/2018 S. Padre Island 10 4 1 15
05/16/2018 TMCEC Office 1 5 3 9
06/06/2018 El Paso 0 3 0 3
06/13/2018 Austin 6 1 6 13
06/27/2018 San Antonio 9 7 12 28
07/20/2018 Austin 24 6 2 32
08/10/2018 TMCEC Office 7 10 4 21
Totals for FY 2018 174 135 59 368
Totals for FY 2017 161 150 72 383
Totals for FY2016 264 176 77 517
Totals for FY2015 276 161 49 486
Totals for FY 2014 184 160 53 397
09/14/2018 TMCEC Office 03/04/2019 Addison Crowne Plaza 06/17/2019 Austin Omni Southpark
10/22/2018 Tyler Holiday Inn 03/25/2019 Houston Omni Westside 06/24/2019 Austin Omni Southpark
11/13/2018 Austin Omni Southpark 04/08/2019 Lubbock Overton Hotel 07/12/2019 Austin Omni Southpark
11/30/2018 Austin Omni Southpark 04/19/2019 TMCEC Office 07/26/2019 TMCEC Office
01/07/2019 San Antonio Omni Colonnade 04/29/2019 SPI Isla Grand 08/12/2019 TMCEC Office
01/14/2019 Galveston San Luis Resort 05/24/2019 TMCEC Office 08/22/2019 TMCEC Office
01/31/2019 Georgetown Sheraton Hotel 06/03/2019 Abilene Elegante Suites *TCCA October 2019
02/13/2019 Houston Omni Westside 06/10/2019 Austin Omni Southpark *TMCA to be announced
Test Taking Tips:
Prepare, take good
notes, ask questions,
take a break the day be-
fore the exam, and most
importantly, practice pos-
itive self-talk. You can do
this!
Update Certification Materials—85th Legislature
Update certification materials to include new laws.
This includes a revision to Level I & Level II study
guides (2), practice tests (2), crossword puzzles (2),
prep session facilitator materials (2), flash cards (2),
online flash cards (2), OLC study session (2), Loop
Cards (2), teaching aids & treasure boxes (2), exams
(2), and master answer keys (9). This is a total of
29 items that must be reviewed for revision, edited
and implemented. As in any other legislative year,
this majority of our year will be consumed by this
major project. (Complete)
Enhance Visual Learning
Review the feasibility of implementing additional
visual aids in the Level I and Level II study guides.
(Level I-Complete )
Marketing
Create a seal for certification program, to be used in
recognition of court clerks, build camaraderie within
the program, and promote certification within the
state. (Complete)
Prep Sessions
Prep sessions were moved to the chapter level train-
ing forum in FY 18-19. TCCA was diligent in secur-
ing locations and instructors prior each regional
seminar. This new training format has been market-
ed to constituents through TCCA and TMCEC.
(Complete)
Additional Study Material
Vocabulary, Level I & Level II flash cards were
adapted from the study guides and Online Learning
Center (OLC). These were printed for product sales
and sold through TMCEC. Short video segments for
the OLC were produced last summer, and we con-
tinue to build our collection of new videos.
(Complete)
Revise Level III Required Reading
Formed subcommittee to assist in the selection of up-
dated Level III books. A new list of books was devel-
oped. Security and Financial Management were imple-
mented with changes on 9/1/18. The remainder of
the changes will begin on 9/1/19. This change was in
direct response to constituents requests for more up-
dated topics. (Complete)
Security
Revised Level III Part B test to include questions from
the book, “Protecting Court.” This exam was effective
9/1/18. (Complete)
Excerpt Financial Management Guide
Create a new version from an excerpt of the original
book that excludes outdated information. This will al-
low the reader to focus on the actual portions repre-
sented in the Level III test. (Complete)
Create new Study Questions
Revise exam and study questions for Level III Security
book and Financial Management Excerpt. (Complete)
Create Level III Master Set
This set includes all books from the previous list and
all books that have been added. Each book has exam
questions marked by tabs and is cross referenced
with a notebook of exam and study questions.
(Complete)
FY 17/18 Exam Analysis Binders
Each year, exam results are analyzed using the grad-
ing system to define areas needing educational ex-
pansion or content updates. From these results many
improvements have been identified and updated.
(Complete)
Revise L3 Existing Study Questions
Based on the annual exam analysis results, two of the
L3—Part C study question and exams were expanded
& revised.
FY17-18 Certification Program Goals Status—Completed The following includes progress of goals set for ourselves in fiscal year 2018
Page 6 End of Year Report
Create a FAQ Pamphlet
Create a pamphlet for test proctors to hand out after
each exam which describes “next steps.”
Expand Vocabulary Tools
Continue to expand learning tools through the addition
of new legal terminology to increase the total number of
vocabulary flash cards.
New L3 Reading List
Publicize and market the new Level III Reading List.
Update the webpage and publish articles that encour-
age clerks to move forward.
Create New Study Questions
This requires time to read each new book and create
study questions by January which will allow clerks to
begin preparing to test on the new L3 reading materials
effective 9/1/19.
Create New L3 Exams
Create new exam questions for each of the six (6) new
book added to the Level III reading materials.
Update “Level III Planning Guide”
This guide was previously called the “Level III Applica-
tion & Requirements Packet.” It will be broken down
into a user friendly, updated guide to complete the Lev-
el III certification.
Update Journal Instructions
Review and revise the Level III Journal Handbook to re-
flect a more appropriate journal & observation process.
This document was created many years ago with little
consideration of how the program may change. Revi-
sions to expectations in the journal submittal process
will be considered during FY 19.
Course of Study
Develop and publish a promotional handout outlining
the recommended order for completing each level and
phase of the program, beginning with Level III.
Redesign Clerk Publication Form
The existing form needs the seal and branding to be
added and upscale the overall look of the document.
Texas Map Graphic
Create map visually depicting certification participation
by city or region.
ONGOING GOALS
TCCA L3 Mentor Program
Continue to explore and improve formalized mentor-
ing sessions/groups for all levels of certification
testing for individuals who prefer more one on one
study time. The most immediate need appears to
be in the Level III portion of the program, which cur-
rently has no study session. This is a TCCA project
which is in ongoing development.
Update Study Guides
The Level I and Level II study guides, flash cards,
learning tools and teaching materials continue to be
updated to reflect changes from legislative ses-
sions.
City and Court Recognition
TMCEC will continue to offer further recognition for
cities and courts who participate in the clerks pro-
gram.
Uniform Promotional Branding
Continue to develop uniform branding of the clerk
program and certification across educational semi-
nars, publications, and media. Develop a recogniza-
ble brand associated with the program for use in
promotional and recognition materials. Consider
additional promotional branding, including applying
the seal to more merchandise and using on certifi-
cation presentation materials.
Statistical Metrics
Review and create new reports from performance
data to reflect program success which can be used
in promotional materials, publications and the web-
site. Create metric definition and rules related to
how statistics are shown in annual reports and other
published items.
TMCEC Website-Ongoing
Continue to reimagine and update TMCEC website
for the Clerk Certification website. Goals are (1)
simplify accessibility of program rules, tools, and
forms and (2) market the program to city manage-
ment and a larger demographic. In addition, TMCEC
will continue to develop new media to broaden out-
reach and participation.
FY 18-19 Certification Program Goals The following includes a list of new and ongoing goals for fiscal year 2019.
Page 7 FY 2017-2018
The City of San Antonio has the highest number of employees participating in
the Certification program with a total of 62.
The City of Houston has the second highest number of employees participat-
ing with a total of 52.
The City of Arlington has the third highest number of employees participating
with a total of 39.
The City of Plano has the fourth highest number of employees participating
with a total of 24.
8 Municipal Courts in the state have more than 1 clerks certified at Level III.
The Cities of Austin, Friendswood, Katy, League City, Manor, Richardson, Sug-
ar Land, and Webster are the only cities who currently employ two (2) or
more clerks that have achieved the esteemed Level III designation of CMCC.
TCCA hired,
as an inde-
p e n d e n t
contractor,
a criminal
justice stu-
dent intern from Texas State
University. Valerie Chavez
served as the Certification
Assistant in the summer of
FY 2017-2018. Valerie
worked May 25 through Au-
gust 21, 2017 at the TMCEC
office in Austin. She worked
part time from 20-30 hours
each week. She was as-
signed a variety of tasks by
the Program Coordinator and
Executive Director. This chart
is an overview of the pro-
jects assigned to the intern
and their final status.
Intern Report
Project Status
Posted and updated exam records for the fis-
cal year of 2018.
Completed
Assisted in evaluating individual exam results
when requested for program coordinator
Completed
Worked with program coordinator on certifica-
tion test results, renewals, and certification
records management.
Completed
Created master Level III book sets with test
questions and answers marked.
Part A & C Complete
Input certification data & survey data for end
of the year statistics.
Completed
Worked on printed reports and other certifica-
tion materials as assigned.
Completed
Page 8
Fun Facts
Texas Municipal Courts Education Center
2210 Hancock Drive
Austin, TX 78756
512.320.8274 ● 800.252.3718
www.tmcec.com ● Fax: 512.435.6118
Honorable Mention
The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) was formed in 1984 by the Texas Municipal Courts Association (TMCA) to provide extensive, continuing professional education and training programs for municipal judges and court personnel. TMCEC is financed by a grant from the Court of Criminal Appeals out of funds appropriated by the Legislature to the Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund.
Page 9
Name City Level Year Certified at Level I Years in Program
Nancy Sanford Crandall II 12/5/1997 21 years
Jeanie Roumell Westlake III 8/4/1998 21 years
Luevada Posey Killeen III 6/12/2002 19 years
Name City Years in Certification
Program
Carol Gauntt Willow Park 20
Phyllis Mathison Manor 20
Pamela Folsom Lumberton 20
Bonnie Townsend Luling 15
Erin Westmoreland Lochart 7
Certified Judges, Level III—CMCC
Number of Judges Level 1st year of participation Years in Program
10 Judges I May 1999 19 years
18 Judges II December 1998 20 years
Certified Judges, Level I & II
Certified Clerks, Longest Participation