Twenty-six Lufkin ISD teachers will be recommended to receive the Teacher Incentive Allotment as announced at the Board of Trustees work session today. Depending on the level of designation and the campus where they teach, these teachers could earn between $6,000 to $25,000 per year for five years on top of their annual salary.
Charlotte Davis, Teacher Incentive Allotment coordinator for Lufkin ISD, presented to the board what the TIA is, who will receive the benefit and how the process works.
“This is not a grant,” said Davis. “It is a realistic pathway for our top educators to earn six-figure salaries and to help attract, recruit and retain highly effective teachers and to incentivize teachers to teach tougher areas.”
The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was created by the Texas Legislature and as part of House Bill 3 is dedicated to recruiting, supporting and retaining highly effective teachers in all schools, with particular emphasis on high-needs and rural schools. The TIA provides funding for compensation to pay highly effective teachers whose students show measurable improvement in academic growth.
Lufkin ISD teachers who are designated will earn a combined $271,699 per year. For five years, together they will accumulate $1.3 million.
The process began in the summer of 2021 when Lufkin ISD administrators completed the TIA application for submission and approval. In the beginning, a District committee was established to create a plan. The committee included teachers from pre-K through high school. They researched, planned and created the handbook. Teachers were measured by teacher observation and student growth as explained in the TIA flowchart.
Year two was the year to capture data and now in year three, the data was submitted and recommendations made. In April, the District will receive a formal notification and teachers will receive payment in August.
“A teacher could receive $20,000 a year for five years and it will go toward TRS retirement,” Kurt Stephens, Deputy Superintendent, said. “That can be life changing. Our most gifted teachers will want to stay here and not leave money on the table.There are districts who chose not to pursue the TIA, and in this area that puts us in a good position.”
Another pathway for teachers to receive salary benefits is through the National Board Certification.
“We have a lot of extraordinary teachers who are not eligible for the TIA that are doing an excellent job with growth,” Kristi Gay, school board president, said. “They can move forward with the National Board Certification that accommodates a range of subject areas.”
The National Board Certification is open for all. Currently the school district has twelve participants in this cycle. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.
“It’s a two-year long process with a certification test,” Davis said. “The teacher will receive the funding as long as they have the certification, and the increase in salary will apply to TRS. Nearly $100,000 will be allotted each year for National Board Certification teachers.”
To find out more about TIA, click here.