ECISD teachers earn $2.4 million in incentives
The second time around, for the Teacher Incentive Allotment saw ECISD more than double the number of teachers and the amount of money received compared to last year. Bigger. Bolder. Better. Indeed.
Two-hundred fifty-eight (258) ECISD teachers earned more than $2.4 million in incentives. This is a significant increase from the 120 teachers and $879,000 received by the district a year ago. The 258 teachers represent 38 ECISD schools, and their individual awards ranged from $3,351 to $20,328. In ECISD, five teachers earned more than $20,000 and seven earned more than $19,000.
Friday morning, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Muri hosted an ECISD Live broadcast and media event at Wilson & Young Medal of Honor Middle School where 11 teachers, the most of any ECISD middle school, were surprised with their awards.
““It’s powerful to recognize and honor our most effective teachers in this very profound way,” said Dr. Muri. “This just isn’t a 50-dollar gift card because they’ve done a good job, this is significant money that recognizes the incredible work of highly effective, highly skilled teachers.”
The Teacher Incentive Allotment was created by the Texas Legislature in 2019, as part of House Bill 3, to provide a realistic pathway for top teachers to earn six-figure salaries and to help attract and retain highly effective teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff schools. The allotment amount per teacher is based on the level of academic growth their students attained, teacher instructional performance, and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students at their school.
There are three levels for which a teacher in Texas can qualify: Recognized, Exemplary and Master. In ECISD, 105 teachers are Recognized (up from 64 a year ago), 110 are Exemplary (up from 50 a year ago), and 43 are at the Master level (up from 6 a year ago), which is the highest designation.
“Our theme for this year has been ‘Level Up’,” said Dr. Muri. “Our teachers obviously took that challenge to heart. In addition to 183 more teachers earning TIA designations this year, we had 34 of last year’s teachers improve their TIA designation. Of those, 5 jumped up two designations from Recognized to Master.”
One of those teachers is Sara Cox, a math teacher and Multi-classroom Leader at Wilson & Young MS. “I was surprised I hit Masters and I was just really proud of that,” said Sara. “It’s the culmination of having a really great team when I was in elementary and this year. I have an amazing team and I have an amazing group of kids.”
Not only does a qualifying teacher receive the TIA incentive dollars, they also have the Recognized, Exemplary or Master designation placed on their teaching certificate. The designation remains in place for five years.
Following the press conference, Dr. Muri visited ten more schools and presented the checks to more than 100 teachers. Audrey Carrasco, a 3rd-grade teacher at San Jacinto Elementary earned one of the $20,000 incentives – one of three SJ teachers to earn that amount. She said the key is setting high expectations. “[I want] them to understand, if I can meet my goals they can meet their goals, too. It’s not really necessarily the money, it’s just the kids. I really enjoy the kiddos.”
ECISD began the rigorous TIA application process in 2019. The teacher’s data is collected one year, then verified by Texas Tech University and reviewed by the Texas Education Agency. The monetary awards are then dispersed the following year. In this second year of TIA payouts, eligible ECISD teachers are Kindergarten through 8th grade English Language Arts; Math, English I, English II, and Algebra I; PreK-4; and 3rd grade through 8th grade Science. ECISD adds additional subjects to eligibility each year.
“It’s a great incentive, people talk about it,” said Sara from Wilson & Young. “We work really hard anyway, but this is a great way to keep us pushing to get better and better and better every year.”
Read more about Teacher Incentive Allotment in ECISD at https://www.ectorcountyisd.org/domain/1039 and more from the state at https://tiatexas.org/.
Ector County ISD teachers earning TIA designations and incentives
Austin Montessori
Paulina Contreras, Recognized
Ivette Suchil, Recognized
Violeta Gonzalez Salazar, Exemplary
Guadalupe Portillo, Exemplary
Amy Richter, Exemplary
Reagan Riley, Exemplary
Verenice Sevilla, Exemplary
Blackshear Elementary
Ora Christian, Recognized
Norma Galindo, Recognized
Olga Hernandez, Recognized
Samantha Hutson, Recognized
Dave Machuca , Recognized
Lelia Ramirez, Recognized
Ashley Redman, Recognized
Beatrice Sosa, Recognized
Blanton Elementary
Leesa Harrington, Recognized
Quinesha Johnson, Recognized
Jasmine Bryant, Exemplary
Leona Colling, Exemplary
Monica Nieto, Exemplary
Della Ornelas, Exemplary
Minerva Chavez, Master
Traci Fuentes, Master
Bonham Middle School
Siara Alderete, Recognized
Samantha Baker, Exemplary
Carnisha Brown, Exemplary
Kelly Debouse, Exemplary
Bowie Middle School
Rexana Hughes, Recognized
David Lee, Exemplary
Monica Olivas, Exemplary
Buice Elementary
Jennifer Connell, Recognized
Mabel Gutierrez, Recognized
Amy Price, Recognized
Donna Reese, Recognized
Catherine Sharp, Recognized
Kimberlie Snyder, Recognized
Jessica Brown, Exemplary
Maria Costilla, Exemplary
Margarita Grimsley, Exemplary
Crystal Mineo, Exemplary
Wendy Ramirez, Exemplary
Tenille Reed, Exemplary
Stephanie Clark, Master
Burleson Elementary
Nancy Villanueva, Exemplary
Burnet Elementary
Catherine Caruso, Master
Robin Peterson, Master
Diana Richardson, Master
Cameron Elementary
Jennifer Hernandez, Recognized
Chon Lee, Recognized
Karina Ligon, Recognized
Jessica Martinez, Recognized
Ramona Mata, Recognized
Teri McLeod, Recognized
Griselda Muniz, Recognized
Lizette Rey, Recognized
Cynthia Talancon Leal, Exemplary
Diana Tavarez, Exemplary
Carver Early Education Center
Stephanie Johnson, Recognized
Cavazos Elementary
Araceli Martinez, Recognized
Adriana Renteria, Recognized
Josep Sanchez Mari, Recognized
Kristy Winchell, Recognized
Aaron Carrillo, Exemplary
Anna Garcia, Exemplary
Windy Quilodran, Exemplary
Crockett Middle School
Priscilla Castro Molina, Recognized
Reina Danica Delos Reyes, Recognized
Tamara Smith, Recognized
Dowling Elementary
Gabriel Chavez, Recognized
Whittney Neemar, Exemplary
Sheryl Garcia, Master
E.K. Downing Elementary
Rocky Phillips, Recognized
Beth Pittmon, Recognized
Fly Elementary
Deisy Aguirre Galindo, Recognized
Veronica Garcia, Recognized
Alejandro Munoz, Recognized
Dailynn Puente, Recognized
Karen Reyna, Recognized
America Baeza, Exemplary
Gloria Cisneros, Exemplary
Sylvia Feil, Exemplary
Kimberly Fulton, Exemplary
Gabriela Harris, Exemplary
Jacqueline Hernandez Garcia, Exemplary
Griselda Montes, Exemplary
Arely Ramirez, Exemplary
Gladisol Tarin, Exemplary
Sandra Valenzuela Quezada, Exemplary
Myranda Clark, Master
Myrna Hernandez, Master
Arely Montoya, Master
Bianca Ramirez Caro, Master
Jeanette Rodriguez, Master
Kara Stribling, Master
Memrey White, Master
Gale Pond Alamo Elementary STEAM Academy
Stacie Ahrlett, Recognized
Ariam Solis, Recognized
Elizabeth Ashmore, Exemplary
Kristina Carrasco, Exemplary
Angela Friday, Exemplary
Jennifer Natividad, Exemplary
Brittani Espino , Master
Christa Miller, Master
Goliad Elementary
Napoleon Armendariz , Recognized
Anita Mckay, Recognized
Neftali Salgado, Recognized
Cristina Vidal, Recognized
Maria Alvarez Fernandez, Exemplary
Maria Delbosque, Exemplary
Melissa Johnson, Exemplary
Gabriel Mendez, Exemplary
Juan Navarrete, Exemplary
Leslianne Prince, Exemplary
Amanda Tijerina, Exemplary
Gonzales Elementary
Keri Rivas, Recognized
Hays STEAM Academy
Monica Azcarate, Recognized
Laura Garcia Smit, Recognized
Karla Guzman, Recognized
Erika Pocaterra, Recognized
Ashley Rojo, Recognized
Deborah Pina, Exemplary
Ireland Elementary
Edward Corrales, Recognized
Irma Lopez, Recognized
Crystalina Nealy, Recognized
Marti Smith, Recognized
Alexis Lopez, Exemplary
Angelle Mundia, Exemplary
Nereida Nieto, Exemplary
Christy Patrick, Exemplary
Johnson Elementary
Phyllis Faulkner, Recognized
Madison Ross, Recognized
Jami Gatewood, Exemplary
Brooke Sparkman, Exemplary
Jordan Elementary
Kary Bailey, Recognized
Casey Boswell, Recognized
Jennifer Gaule, Recognized
Candace Rey, Recognized
Angie Kirk, Exemplary
Jolynn Logan, Exemplary
Lamar Early Education Center
Arlene Denney, Recognized
Jennifer Merriman, Recognized
Lina Hernandez, Exemplary
Elsa Chacon, Master
Milam Elementary
Clarice Crisostomo, Recognized
Enedina Lozano, Recognized
Laura Merono Coello, Recognized
Lorena Carrasco, Exemplary
Casandra Contreras, Exemplary
Dania Flack, Exemplary
Christy Starkes, Exemplary
Morayma Valverde, Exemplary
Annalisa Zapata, Exemplary
Veronica Pena, Master
Nimitz Middle School
Jessica Alba, Recognized
Casey Alexander, Recognized
Michelle McNeill, Recognized
Melodi Rivera, Recognized
Hugo Stierholz , Recognized
Priscilla Torres, Recognized
Emma Dominguez, Exemplary
Annabelle Rochin, Exemplary
Michelle Thomas, Exemplary
Kimberly James, Master
Noel Elementary
Irma Rizo, Recognized
Laura Roman, Recognized
Bianca Sanchez, Recognized
Sheila Wilson, Exemplary
Dana Batten, Master
Bailey Haney, Master
Patricia Holguin, Master
OCTECHS
Danielle Jones, Recognized
Jelene Ballard, Exemplary
Odessa Collegiate Academy
Lydia Roundtree, Recognized
Anneliese Espinoza, Exemplary
Kelsey Worthy, Exemplary
Odessa High School
Josefina Cooper, Recognized
Pease Elementary
Maria Gonzalez, Recognized
Matthew Maxwell, Recognized
Michelle Aguilar, Exemplary
Selena Baeza, Exemplary
Rocio Castillo, Exemplary
Evelyn Frausto, Exemplary
Aida Garcia, Exemplary
Heather Lovett, Exemplary
Kristie Mendoza, Exemplary
Jaclyn Perrin, Exemplary
Mayra Venegas Reynoso, Exemplary
Laurie Bruner, Master
Shadiana Haney, Master
Rocio Luna, Master
Maria Ramirez-Garza, Master
Sonia Velicias, Master
Permian High School
Rolando Gloria, Recognized
Marie Ramos, Recognized
Dawnna Talley, Recognized
Robert Wills, Recognized
Vanessa Vaughn, Exemplary
Reagan Elementary
Maria Fierro, Recognized
Ruth Garcia, Recognized
Johana Gonzalez, Recognized
Patricia Holguin, Recognized
Brittany Looney, Recognized
Jennifer Carrasco, Exemplary
W Darlene Carrell, Exemplary
Kelly Davis, Exemplary
Connie Drager, Exemplary
Erin Franklin, Exemplary
Abby Gann, Exemplary
Brandy Taylor, Exemplary
Trinicia Watson, Exemplary
Maricela Young, Exemplary
Amelia Barnes, Master
Catalina Bobadilla, Master
Anese Forsyth, Master
Ashley Herrington, Master
Jena Hopkins, Master
Melanie Key, Master
Jasmin Rodriguez, Master
Benjie Rosaldo , Master
Teresa Speer, Master
Ross Elementary
Melisa Burnett, Recognized
Maddison Kennedy, Recognized
Andrea Berndt, Exemplary
Kelsa Bertrand , Exemplary
Jennifer Cooper, Exemplary
Rhonda Beaman, Master
Juliana Denadai, Master
Leeanne Shackelford, Master
Sam Houston Elementary
Cindy Almance, Exemplary
Julie Loera, Exemplary
San Jacinto Elementary
Destiny Ramirez, Recognized
Kaylea Brooks, Exemplary
Margaret Dutchover, Exemplary
Klarissa Salgado, Exemplary
Audrey Carrasco, Master
Christine Carrillo, Master
Andrea Salcido, Master
STEM Academy at UTPB
Angelica Ruiz, Exemplary
Travis Elementary
Consuelo Soto, Recognized
Mary Ramos, Exemplary
West Elementary
Sarah Burton, Recognized
Victor Galvan Guzman, Recognized
John Lucio, Recognized
Elizabeth Mcnabb, Recognized
Ambrosia Rodriguez, Recognized
Nora Grijalva, Exemplary
Isabella Soto, Exemplary
Wilson & Young Medal of Honor Middle School
Jorge Molinar, Recognized
Amy Pena, Recognized
Ruby Brown, Exemplary
Nayla Carrasco, Exemplary
Julie Drainer, Exemplary
D'andra Hendricks, Exemplary
Lindsay Jonas, Exemplary
Jinsi Shu, Exemplary
Karen Vicory, Exemplary
Mary Carrasco, Master
Sara Cox, Master
