TEA hopes statewide bonus initiative will help schools retain highest performing teachers

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Keeping teachers in the classroom is a struggle across the nation and Texas is no exemption.

At the beginning of the 2023 school year, 22 percent of first-year teachers did not return for a second year.

The Texas Education Agency hopes a statewide initiative to award bonuses to teachers who produce a high level of expansive student growth will help with teacher retention.

Fifth Grade Crestview Elementary Teacher Mia Guillen received a bonus of more than $10,000 for her performance last year.

“I’m just very grateful that we are all able to work together so well and that we’ve all been recognized for our hard work,” Guillen said.

In addition to her classroom duties, Guillen is also a multi-classroom leader who must support a group of multiple teachers. All those teachers also qualified for the bonus, something that shows her leadership and success.

The bonuses are meant for the best of the best teachers, at Waco ISD close to 20 percent of teachers receive these bonuses from a state funded program called the Teacher Incentive Allotment or TIA.

Waco ISD judges TIA based on multiple categories, including student growth and teacher engagement.

Guillen did not receive the bonus the first year the district rolled out the program, but after organizing her plans and seeing what areas she fell short, she was able to clear the bar.

“What I did was I started developing a professional development plan for myself so that I could grow as a professional, and then I later realized that just made me an even better teacher,” Guillen said.

Back in 2019, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3, which created the TIA and gave teachers the chance to receive thousands in performance bonuses.

The money for TIA is allocated by the state, but it takes quite the village to oversee the TEA guidelines.

Waco ISD jumped on the opportunity to be a TIA school the first year it could. The program has expanded from just 40 teachers in year one having the chance to receive TIA to now being available for all teachers within the district. Now about 200 teachers have been designated for the bonus.

“This is a game changer for teachers. Waco ISD is an area where there is an opportunity for them to earn six figures,:” Waco ISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Josie Gutierrez said.

The program is not just for large districts. Chilton ISD recently established the program after getting state approval. The school district is in its first year awarding bonuses to math and reading teachers.

“I believe that our teachers, our staff in Chilton are phenomenal. They’re some of the greatest educators that I’ve worked with. And so the opportunity for them to be recognized and to receive the compensation that they deserve is exciting,” Superintendent Dr. Brandon Hubbard said.

Some districts have staff fully dedicated to TIA implementation, but at Chilton many individuals in administration had to work together to successfully complete their application.

“I’ve been education for 30 years and I have never experienced something where I have to see all the little intricate pieces. As well as pushing it all together, it’s just like a well oiled machine and all the gears have to work together in order for, teachers and students to be successful,” said Gayla Reid, director of curriculum instruction and assessments.

During the 2023 school year the TEA announced more than $290 million in funds had been handed out to just over 26,000 dedicated teachers, with 542 school districts receiving funds.

The question is this: have these incentives helped keep teachers in the classrooms?

“In recent years, we’ve looked at the difference of retention rates between designated teachers and other teachers. And overall, we found that designated teachers are 8 percentage points higher, more likely to be retained in their district,” said Matthew Holzgrafe, TEA director of division talent systems.

Guillen said her motivation is the kids and growth. After seeing her students grow she has looked to try to help with any questions her fellow teachers have when trying to find success with the TIA.

“We’re growing all educators, everyone involved, all students, all staff members, all stakeholders, so that we can ultimately get our kiddos where they need to be,” Guillen said.

Guillen said while the bonus money was nice she does not do it for the money. She just wants the kids to be the level they need to be at.

Guillen is currently looking to get her second Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Policy.

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