(Seguin) — Seguin ISD has gained approval for its Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
“The TIA program creates an avenue for recognized, exemplary and master teachers to be rewarded monetarily for continuous, high-quality service toward student classroom learning. One of the benefits is the ability to attract and retain these highly effective educators. With teachers in short supply in Texas and nationally, we are hopeful that our best and brightest educators will continue to choose Seguin ISD,” said Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, Seguin ISD superintendent.
Approved by the Texas legislature under House Bill 3, the TIA provides a pathway to recognize and compensate high-performing teachers, especially those serving high-needs and rural schools. The potential to earn six figures is a possibility in the program.
“Seguin ISD completed a two-step application and approval process spanning three full school years. TEA evaluated the district throughout both stages to ensure statutory compliance, validity, and reliability. With the help of Texas Tech University, TEA will annually monitor Seguin ISD and all participating school districts through all phases of the program,” said Gutierrez.
Teachers may earn a designation under one of two pathways. One, created by the school district, allows the district to determine and issue the designation based on performance standards in the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) and student growth outcomes. The second pathway is through the National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards.
Designations are in the form of distinctions that highly effective teachers can earn. Under the school district’s pathway, designations include recognized, exemplary, and master. Teachers with the National Board certification may automatically be designated as recognized directly by TEA.
In order to be designated a master teacher, the teacher must achieve an appraisal and student growth performance rate that places them among the top five percent of teachers statewide. The allotment is $12,000-$32,000.
An exemplary teacher’s appraisal and student growth performance places them in the top 20 percent in the state. The allotment is $6,000-$18,000.
The appraisal and student growth performance of a recognized teacher places them in the top 33 percent of teachers across the state. The allotment is $3,000-$9,000.
Designations are awarded for five years and noted on the teacher’s certificate. The amount of funding a designated teacher earns will vary by campus based on their designation and the socioeconomic needs of the teacher’s campus.
The 2023-24 school year represents Phase 1 of the project in Seguin ISD. Teachers who are eligible to earn a distinction are those who teach Math 4-8 and Algebra 1 or Reading 4-8 and English I and II. In Phase 2 (2024-25 school year), eligible teachers include PK-12 who obtain a National Board Certification, PK-second grade self-contained classroom teachers and third grade and 5-12 grade STAAR tested core teachers. The 2025-26 school year marks Phase 3 when special education, career and technology education (CTE), fine arts and non-tested core content teacher become eligible in the TIA program.
TEA statute requires that 90 percent of TIA funds be distributed directly to teachers and allow 10 percent of the funds to be used by the school district for administrative funds related to the TIA program. Seguin ISD will distribute generated funds to teachers who earn designations in one paycheck by Aug. 31, 2025.