(Seguin) — Seguin ISD is seeing a major jump in the number of high-performing teachers being recognized and rewarded through a state program that comes with thousands of dollars in lump-sum payments.
Dr. Jack Lee, Seguin ISD superintendent, says the growth reflects both the strength of local educators and the purpose behind the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program.
“The Texas Legislature implemented the Teacher Incentive Allotment, which was designed to really highlight outstanding educators in the classroom that do amazing work at helping their students grow academically,” said Lee.
This year, 38 Seguin ISD teachers earned either new or higher TIA designations. Lee says that’s more than double the 17 recognized last year. Plus he says of those previously recognized, seven moved up to higher levels.
“I think it’s important to note that the Teacher Incentive Allotment is very much built upon two things. One, teacher evaluations and how well that they are evaluated for the outstanding job that they do. But then most importantly, how much they can get the students in their classroom to grow from the previous year to the following year academically. And that’s what the teacher Incentive Allotment is that the legislature put in place and then TEA rolled out through some rules. And you know, we’re very fortunate. We’re very very fortunate. We had 38 teachers this year that are receiving either new distinctions, meaning it’s the first time they will ever receive Teacher Incentive Allotments, or a handful of teachers that were already designated in the previous year and have moved up in levels for Teacher Incentive Allotment,” said Lee.
The TIA program, created by the Texas Legislature and administered by the Texas Education Agency, allows teachers to earn additional pay based on performance. Educators can qualify for one of three designations: Recognized, Exemplary, or Master.
Lee says these designations, again, come with significant financial rewards provided at the start of the school year.
“Recognized teachers get anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000. Exemplary teachers are getting roughly $10,000, maybe a little bit more. And then your Master teachers can get possibly up to even $20,000. And those are all rough estimates. It is very much dependent upon the individual campus and also where the school district is located across the state,” said Lee.
More importantly, Lee says unlike traditional raises, the TIA funds are distributed as a lump sum payment – making it more of an incentive for all teachers.
“All teachers will maintain those designations for a period of five years. It actually goes on their teaching certificate. So any teacher that has been a Designated Teacher Incentive Allotment Teacher, like I said, whether it’s being Recognized Exemplary or Master teachers, those will show on their teaching certificate so that if they work in a different school district that does not have Teacher Incentive Allotment, they still qualify for those funds over that five-year period. If they move up a designation, it resets their five-year clock, but they’re guaranteed that for a five-year period of time, and they get all of those funds at one time. It’s a lump sum payment to them in August,” said Lee.
Teachers receiving the new or upgraded designations serve across the district, including Ball Early Childhood Center, Jefferson, Koennecke, McQueeney, Patlan, Rodriguez, Vogel and Weinert elementary schools, as well as Briesemeister Middle School and Seguin High School.
With this year’s additions, the Seguin ISD now has a total of 52 teachers eligible for TIA compensation when they return for the new school year in August.