Published on: February 5, 2026
An ATIXA Testimonial by Steve Fisk, Superintendent, Odessa School District
I’ve sat through my share of lawyers’ presentations, especially compliance trainings. They’re usually snoozers. My training with ATIXA was not.
Going in, I expected the usual format: bullet points, slides, head nodding, and checking the box. I was fully prepared for Death by PowerPoint. That’s what we do to each other in education, and it gets the job done. What stood out to me immediately was the quality of the instruction, and it’s my job as a superintendent to recognize good educators when I see them.
This was a private, in-person training focused on Title IX investigations, hosted by the Washington School Personnel Association, and I attended on behalf of the Odessa School District #105. It was a regional training, which meant districts from across the state could participate and learn together. This made the training more accessible, more relevant, and more connected to the realities we face in Washington.
The Nitty Gritty, Not Rabbit Holes
As a former teacher, I recognize and appreciate high-quality instruction. The ATIXA faculty member was TNG Consultant Erin Agidius, J.D., and her engagement with the audience was undoubtedly the result of intentional preparation and training. Her pacing and structure were exceptional. She used strategies familiar to any K-12 professional, like table talk and elbow partner work, and she used them effectively. These weren’t filler techniques. They were used to genuinely connect the audience with the content.
She also did something that’s difficult in a Title IX training: she kept the session moving without shutting people down. With a topic like Title IX, people want to dive into hypotheticals. Someone will ask, “Well, what about this?” and suddenly you’re ten minutes down a rabbit hole. It could go on all day. Erin skillfully acknowledged and validated those questions before redirecting the conversation. “That’s an interesting question we can explore on break,” she’d say, and then we moved on. That pacing kept the audience engaged, and once you have them engaged, you’re going to be effective.
This approach also made the material far more approachable. There wasn’t a bunch of legalese. It was common-sense language. Erin stepped away from the podium, made eye contact, and used her body language deliberately. It was clear to me that she had taught before, because this certainly didn’t feel like a typical attorney’s presentation.
Investigations, Mapped Out
That instructional clarity really mattered once we got into the substance of the training. The focus was on Title IX investigations, which was exactly what I needed. I had taken an online training session through Washington state before, and it was adequate. It served its purpose. But it didn’t give me the level of understanding I needed, especially given how things have shifted with the Title IX regulations.
Erin walked through the investigation process step by step and mapped it out clearly. She provided examples, from simple to more complex situations, and explained how to structure the work from beginning to end.
A particularly valuable part of the training was the emphasis on deciding what policy applies. Is it Title IX policy? Is it the harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) policy? Is it a civil rights issue? Those things can all get catapulted into the same situation, especially in K-12. Erin didn’t avoid that complexity. She went down that pathway with us and helped clarify when Title IX is appropriate and when another policy might lead to a better, faster resolution. The process was straightforward, intentional, and practical.
The Hat Stack: When You Manage Title IX and So Much More
Practicality isn’t optional in small school districts like mine.
Out here, the superintendent wears many hats. You’re the Title IX Coordinator, the Federal Programs Director, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director, and whatever else the day requires. You’re “The, The, The, and The.”
Because of that reality, professionals like me need training that’s digestible and applicable. We don’t have time to be overly academic or get bogged down by hypotheticals. ATIXA’s training respected the audience’s time and delivered on its promise to instruct us on Title IX investigations. It didn’t make the work feel bigger or scarier than it already is. It made it feel manageable. That value wasn’t just in the room. ATIXA made sure we left with tools in hand.
Resources You Actually Use
Bringing tangible takeaways to my school community, not just ideas in my head, was key.
I appreciated the ATIXA resource library. I spent time downloading materials and saving them to refer to later. Those resources are valuable, and if people haven’t taken the time to dig into them, they should. I shared what I learned with my principal, because she may have to do this work as well, and it’s important that we’re on the same page.
Why Networking Matters
Since I was the only person from my district at the training, the networking carried real weight. You sit at a table with people you don’t know, you talk, and that’s where those connections start. Now I know people I can call if I need to think through something, and that’s important when you’re in a rural district and often figuring things out on your own.
At my next superintendent meeting, I plan to share the training I went to and let others know that if they need support, they can reach out. In small districts, we rely on each other.
I went in expecting to sit, listen, and get through it. I left with clarity, practical tools, and confidence that if something surfaces, I know how to move forward. And for someone who needs a hat rack for all the hats I wear, that makes all the difference.
Prepare your district with investigations training built for the realities of schools. Explore ATIXA’s K-12 offerings.