Parents want schools to attract and retain the best staff. Some talented teachers want to remain in the classroom rather than move into administration positions. Compensation matters.
With these points in mind, the 86th Texas Legislature passed the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Program in 2019. The goal of the program is to attract, retain and reward classroom teachers - especially at schools where there is a higher percentage of economically-disadvantaged students. Historically, these schools have been harder to staff, and the TIA program provides a pathway for teachers at these schools to earn additional compensation.
The additional compensation comes from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), but districts must apply to be accepted into the TIA program.
Humble ISD learned in 2024 that it received full-system approval to designate teachers for the TIA program through TEA. Because of this, 117 Humble ISD teachers earned an additional $3,000 to nearly $22,000 in additional compensation through the new TIA program. Overall, Humble ISD teachers generated nearly $1 million in additional compensation through the TIA program.
“We are thrilled,” Humble ISD Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Rick Gardner said. “This is a result of years of detailed work by many people and departments partnering and collaborating together in Humble ISD in understanding TIA’s complexities and requirements. We look forward to offering teachers the opportunity to earn additional compensation through TIA.”
In Humble ISD’s first year (“Pilot 1”) of the data collection and designation program, the district purposefully focused on 15 campuses with higher rates of economically disadvantaged students and historically harder-to-fill teaching positions.
“This encourages teachers to stay in the profession,” Jasmine Thomas, who earned a designation while teaching at Autumn Creek Elementary School, said. “To keep trying and be rewarded is a nice, proactive way of dealing with our country-wide issue with teacher retention.”
Today, Humble ISD is one of 306 fully-approved school districts to award teacher designations in Texas as a part of TIA. There are more than 1,200 school districts in Texas. TEA will pay out a total of $290 million statewide for teachers who qualified for a TIA designation for the 2023-2024 school year.
How does the TIA Program work?
There are three TIA designation levels: Recognized, Exemplary and Master. Each designation equals a different dollar amount based on the socio-economic status of the campus they taught at during their designation year.
“I appreciate that what we are being acknowledged for is just doing our job,” Thomas said. “It’s not something that you have to plan for, that you have to do extra for, that you have to go out of your way for. It’s just finding ways to measure if a teacher is doing their job and doing it well, so I appreciate that it didn’t add anything else to my very full plate.”
To receive the TIA funds from Humble ISD, the teacher must remain employed by the district and return for the 2024-2025 school year. If the teacher does move campuses, the allotment amount will change for the following year based on their new campus socio-economic status.
Once awarded, the designation is added to the teacher’s State Board of Educator Certification official record and is valid for five years. In that timeframe, teachers can earn a higher designation if they meet the performance criteria, such as improving from Recognized to Exemplary.
All teachers in Humble ISD - no matter their school, subject or grade level -- can generate allotment funding if they earn National Board Certification. Nationally Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) automatically receive a Recognized designation, from TEA, through the TIA program and can teach at any campus, in any teaching assignment, within Humble ISD.
“Even though I am not eligible for locally-designated TIA funds based on my campus or the subject I teach, I can receive them because of my National Board Certification,” Sara Hansen, health science teacher at Atascocita High School, said. “This is in addition to the yearly stipend I receive from Humble ISD for being a national board certified teacher. The National Board Certification is a reflective process that allows teachers to grow in the profession. It has allowed me to improve my teaching practice and has had a direct impact on how I teach my students. The professional and financial benefits absolutely make the process worth the work it takes to certify.”
Humble ISD is continuing to analyze data on different teaching assignments to be considered for the future through the TIA Expansion Modification Application process, which could increase the number of teachers participating in the program.
New and higher designations put forth annually are validated by TEA and Texas Tech University. House Bill 3 explicitly calls for Texas Tech to “monitor the quality and fairness” of the district-created systems.
How did Humble ISD become a part of the TIA Program?
Humble ISD developed and implemented a local designation system, which the state then approved based on its validity and reliability. The district started with specific teaching assignments that had established student growth measurements which TEA could deem valid and reliable.
For the chosen elementary campuses, student growth was measured with the Humble ISD Literacy Assessment for Kindergarten through 5th grade ELA/Reading and SPED self-contained classrooms. For the secondary campuses, STAAR data was utilized. Math, ELA/Reading and SPED self-contained classes were eligible at the select middle schools. Algebra I, English I, English II and Biology classrooms at the high school level were eligible.
The required components of the designation system include teacher and student growth.
In late April, Humble ISD had to confirm that the designated teachers still remained employed with the district and were still in a teaching role to complete the designation process.
On May 30, 2024, the 117 teachers were honored at a luncheon where they received a crystal plaque and designation lapel pin. They will receive their additional compensation during the 2024-2025 school year.
Congratulations to Humble ISD teachers earning TIA Awards:
Elementary Schools
Ashley Baker, Atascocita Springs
Michelle Stroud, Atascocita Springs
Kathleen Murz, Atascocita Springs
Elia (Ellie) Elizondo, Autumn Creek
Jasmine Thomas, Autumn Creek
Jessica Candela, Autumn Creek
Nereida Salazar, Deerwood
Rachelle Thomas (NBTC), Deerwood
Mindy Zimmerman, Elm Grove
Marlety Arevalo, Fall Creek
Donisha Roberts, Fall Creek
Tania Garcia, Jack Fields
Rachel Gere, Jack Fields
Samantha Hunt, Jack Fields
Samantha Monsivais, Jack Fields
Griselda Rosales, Jack Fields
Rubeena Vohra, Jack Fields
Marleen Gomez, Jack Fields
Tamara Ojeda, Jack Fields
Lilmar Useche, Jack Fields
Emily Garcia (NBTC), Hidden Hollow
Latifa McClinton, Humble
Leah Bergman, Lakeland
Angelica Cedillo, Lakeland
Demonica Golston, Lakeland
Renita Harris, Lakeland
Samuel Peredo, Lakeland
Martha Giraldo, Lakeland
Maria Pastora, Lakeland
Judith Ramos, Lakeland
Mariana Barocio-Lerma, North Bend
Deborah Curry, North Bend
Sara Delafuente, North Bend
Dana Leech, North Bend
Kelia Santini, North Bend
Ana Antonini, North Bend
Dora Calvillo, North Bend
Janell Collins, North Bend
Tammi Davis, North Bend
Amy Gentry, North Bend
Mayra Garcia, North Bend
Maureen Coombs, North Bend
Undrea Hobson, North Bend
Anna Rodriguez, North Bend
Terrance Tillman, North Bend
Sheree Delpratt, Oaks
Stephanie Griggs, Oaks
Brenda Wall, Oaks
Djuana Cook, Park Lakes
Hilda Patino, Park Lakes
Martha Pompeyo Lizarraga, Park Lakes
Maribel Flores, Park Lakes
Ranetta Green, Park Lakes
Denecia Hector, Park Lakes
Pininna Herndon, Park Lakes
Stephanie Marza Hebert, Park Lakes
Angelique Ollison, Park Lakes
Damarys Rodriguez, Park Lakes
Elizabeth Serna, Park Lakes
Margarita Davila, Park Lakes
Vanessa Gronvold, Park Lakes
Rebecca Gully, Ridge Creek
Nallely Jimenez, Ridge Creek
Kevin Molander, Ridge Creek
Gina Munoz, Ridge Creek
Megan Simon, Ridge Creek
Diana Carr, Ridge Creek
Monica Navarro Marquez, Ridge Creek
Cameron Brewer, Ridge Creek
Artavia Barrance, River Pines
Brianna Dettwiler, River Pines
Melissa Gonzalez, River Pines
Wala Abuleil, River Pines
Araceli Arevilca, River Pines
Cheryl Cajigal, River Pines
Lillian Estrada, River Pines
Kalin McSweeney, River Pines
Janee Mims, River Pines
Diana Valdes Aguirre, River Pines
Beatriz Anaya, River Pines
Karla Cruz Martinez, River Pines
Katelyn McKellar, Shadow Forest
Melanie Lavachery (NBTC), Summerwood
Katrina Gabrielson, Timbers
Christine Pugh, Timbers
Rebecca Spurgeon, Timbers
Alicia Aaron, Timbers
Ashman Bolle, Timbers
Lynsy Curry, Timbers
Johanna Odell, Timbers
Melissa Perez, Timbers
Susan Vento, Timbers
Shavon Celistan, Whispering Pines
Olevia Daniels-Lyons, Whispering Pines
Calli Daniel, Whispering Pines
Jessica Degraff, Whispering Pines
Norma Woods, Whispering Pines
Jaime Osborn, Whispering Pines
Middle Schools
Jerdie Dickey, Humble
Jacqueline Kihlberg, Humble
Clara Landry, Humble
James Weller, Humble
Molena Minix, Ross Sterling
Shelena Hickman, Ross Sterling
Lowella Meeks, Ross Sterling
Andrea Rogers, Ross Sterling
Emilie Schneider, Ross Sterling
Dominique Taylor, Ross Sterling
Laquendria Atkins, Ross Sterling
Diedra Bates, Ross Sterling
High Schools
Sara Hansen (NBTC), Atascocita
Patsy Monts (NBTC), Atascocita
Natisha Cook, Humble
Sophy Bedru, Humble
Sherrill Lane, Humble
Alejandra Islas, Humble
Cynthia Polley, Humble
