TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple Independent School District recognized and rewarded exceptional teachers from across the district with the presentation of checks totaling more than $500,000 dollars as part of the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) on Monday (August 18).
Temple ISD administrators presented TIA checks totaling $503,822 to 41 teachers across the district on Monday. The 41 teachers recognized on Monday were either receiving a designation for the first time or moving up to a higher level of designation. Of those honored, 11 teachers received recognized designations, 18 achieved exemplary designations and 12 teachers reached master designations. The teachers recognized with TIA designations this year teach in core content areas or are special education resource teachers. In four years of participation in the TIA program, Temple ISD has presented checks worth nearly $1.5 million dollars to 134 designated teachers.
“Temple ISD is excited to continue offering the Teacher Incentive Allotment to teachers,” said Dr. Donna Ward, assistant superintendent of human resources for Temple schools. “As we enter year five of handing out checks to designated teachers, I am reminded of the amazing teachers that serve our students on a daily basis. Not just the designated teachers, but ALL teachers. Temple ISD truly has the most amazing educators, and we are honored to participate in the TIA.”
The TIA was created by the Texas Legislature 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. Participating school districts develop and implement a local designation system that includes, at a minimum, a teacher observation, and a student performance component. TISD’s system includes three levels of designation with master as the highest level. Those designations are good for five years and teachers can be submitted for a higher designation each year based on performance. Temple ISD is one of just 420 districts across the state of Texas to have a fully approved local designation system.
“Temple ISD is known as an innovative district, always looking for creative ways to celebrate and reward staff members for their commitment and excellence in service,” said Dr. Bobby Ott, superintendent of schools for Temple ISD. “I have no words to describe the emotion experienced today when delivering these checks. The highlight of the day was seeing teachers pass credit to their students’ work and coworkers. This represents a selfless environment grounded in service to others, which is indicative of our culture. Temple ISD is truly the right place, with the right people, and why we are looked at statewide as a district that does it the right way!”
The teachers were surprised with the checks by district and campus administrators during a tour of the district. Audrey Burr is a first-grade math and science teacher at Thornton Elementary School, and she received a master designation on Monday. Stacy Montalbo teaches fourth grade at Raye-Allen Elementary School and also earned a master designation. Both teachers are proud of the accomplishment and honored by the recognition but are also quick to share the credit with others.
“It is such an honor and lots of hard work definitely went into it,” Burr said. “But it takes a village to be a teacher, you rely on your teammates and your administrators. It wasn’t just me, there was a whole team of us that were able to accomplish this.”
“This helps solidify my role as a teacher and helps me feel like all of my hard work has paid off,” Montalbo added. “We don’t go into this profession for the money, but it helps motivate me to do my very best every single day. I wouldn’t be here without the kids and without my leadership team. Ultimately it is up to them and their coaching and performance that helped get me to where I am today.”