Texas Teachers Ask Abbott to Mandate Masks in School, He Refuses It's a firm "No" from Governor Abbott as he declines to allow schools to mandate masks for the upcoming school semester. With COVID-19 cases rising in Central Texas, and across the country, The Texas State Teachers Association is asking Governor Abbott to allow school districts to require masks once again, but Abbott remains dug in on his refusal to mandate masks. Ovidia Molina, Texas State Teachers Association President, issued the following statement: "The Texas State Teachers Association calls on Gov. Greg Abbott to withdraw his prohibition on mask mandates and allow individual school districts to require mask use in their facilities if local officials believe masks will help protect the health of their communities as schools reopen for the fall semester.