Ector County ISD officials took a road trip Thursday morning to campuses across the district to award oversized Teacher Incentive Allotment checks to 120 teachers.
This is the first payout year for ECISD and 120 teachers across 31 campuses are going to receive incentives ranging from $3,145 to $19,525. The 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, a news release said.
There are three levels for which a Texas teacher can qualify: Recognized, Exemplary and Master. In ECISD, 64 teachers are Recognized, 50 are Exemplary, and six are at the Master level, which is the highest designation, a news release said.
A qualifying teacher receives the TIA funds, but they also get the Recognized, Exemplary or Master designation placed on their teaching certificate.
In all, ECISD received $879,579 from the state for TIA incentives.
The first stop was Murry Fly Elementary School where 10 teachers were recognized. They had an audience of some 200 prekindergarten through fifth grade students.
People could also watch the presentations via livestream.
Murry Fly Principal Sam Martinez said there are about 1,000 students at his campus.
“… Several years ago, the state legislature in Texas decided that they wanted to set aside a really large amount of money to recognize the teachers in the state of Texas that grow kids the most, that are the most effective teachers in our state,” Muri said.
ECISD decided they wanted to be a part of that because, Muri said, there are some amazing teachers that work in the district.
Martinez said these teachers have an extraordinary ability to develop a great rapport with their students and parents.
“That’s what helps them to be successful,” Martinez said.
Next year, he expects to have close to 30 teachers qualify out of the 45 that work there.
When the Teacher Incentive Allotment was first discussed, Martinez said they didn’t really believe it because it sounded too good to be true. But now they believe.
“We’ve always focused on progress here at Murry Fly. We want every kid to progress, regardless of where they start and the main thing … (is) their ability to develop those relationships with the kids,” Martinez said.
Muri said the awards are based on the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Assessment and the teacher evaluation process. Those combined create a score for each teacher in the district, he added.
The first meeting about Teacher Incentive Allotment was in October 2019, Muri said.
“… These checks are for last year’s data. It takes a full year because once we collect the data, it goes to Texas Tech University for validation. They have to make sure that it is valid and reliable because there’s so much money associated with it. … This year’s results will define next year’s money,” he added.
Griselda Montes, a fourth-grade bilingual math teacher, said they would do what they do for students regardless. But this time, they’re being rewarded for it, which is a big deal.
“It’s really appreciated coming from a teacher’s point of view because we don’t get that much appreciation, so this means a lot. It’s a lot of money,” Montes said.
She noted that this was based on data from last year when students were online part of the time.
Myranda Clark, a fourth-grade math teacher received a check for $9,016. She was “super surprised” and grateful to receive it.
“I was on the committee for it and so I’m super excited about it and I’m hopeful. I couldn’t wait to communicate it back to the campus, the other teachers, and I knew it was going to do good. I knew it. I knew it was going to be an incentive for all the hardworking teachers we have,” Clark said.
With the last couple of years being so tough, Clark said this recognition could not have come at a better time.
“It just makes us want to cry because we know all our hard work was worth it,” Clark added.
Jeanette Rodriguez, a fourth-grade English language arts teacher, said she was thankful.
“… We would do it anyway. It’s just a little bit of an icing on the cake to get it. The cake is good enough, but the icing makes it better,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez added that being called up to get the oversized check was a complete surprise.
“I thought we were just going to be asked about it. I had no idea, but I’m glad our kids got to see it because we do it for them. It’s like they also get rewarded if their teachers get rewarded,” Rodriguez said.
Christine Carrillo, a fifth-grade math teacher at San Jacinto Elementary School, received a check for $19,248. She was also designated as a master teacher.
“It means a lot. The last couple of years I’ve been working long nights, long days for the kiddos and it’s just not that I do it for this, but it’s nice to be recognized and to be valued,” Carrillo said.
“To have that master distinction … on my certificate, I think that means a lot; the fact that your work has been noticed and that I’ve proved myself,” she added.
This is Carrillo’s 10th year in teaching.
“I actually worked in banking for a long time right out of college and I trained a lot of people coming into the bank I worked at and everybody told me you teach so well; you’re so calm … But they told me I was just very patient with everybody,” Carrillo said.
After having the first of her two children, Carrillo decided to go into teaching to get summers off. However, she’s not completely off because she said she devotes a lot of time and energy to preparing for the next year.
“But that’s really why I chose that path. I’m very glad I did because, for sure, this is where I’m meant to me,” Carrillo said.
Teacher Incentive Allotment
| CASEY | BOSWELL | BARBARA JORDAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JENNIFER | GAULE | BARBARA JORDAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANGIE | KIRK | BARBARA JORDAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JO | LOGAN | BARBARA JORDAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MINERVA | CHAVEZ | BLANTON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| TRACI | FUENTES | BLANTON EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| SHEILA | BELL | BONHAM MIDDLE | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MONICA | OLIVAS | BOWIE MIDDLE | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| CINDY | ALMANCE | BURLESON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| FABIOLA | SOTO | BURLESON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| NANCY | VILLANUEVA | BURLESON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| KARINA | LIGON | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Recognized | ||
| RAMONA | MATA | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Recognized | ||
| GRISELDA | MUNIZ | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Recognized | ||
| LIZETTE | REY | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Recognized | ||
| CYNTHIA | TALANCON LEAL | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| DIANA | TAVAREZ | CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| STEPHANIE | JOHNSON | CARVER EARLY EE-KG | 1 | Recognized | ||
| PRISCILLA | CASTRO MOLINA | CROCKETT MIDDLE | 1 | Recognized | ||
| REINA DANICA | DELOS REYES | CROCKETT MIDDLE | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MENDE | MAYS | CROCKETT MIDDLE | 1 | Recognized | ||
| VALERIE | STILES | CROCKETT MIDDLE | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SHERYL | GARCIA | DOWLING EL | 1 | Master | ||
| JUAN | NAVARRETE | DOWLING EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| WHITTNEY | NEEMAR | DOWLING EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| EMMA | HERNANDEZ | ECTOR COLLEGE PREP SUCCESS ACADEMY | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ROCKY | PHILLIPS | EDWARD K DOWNING EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SAMANTHA | HUTSON | EL MAGNET AT BLACKSHEAR | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MONICA | AZCARATE | EL MAGNET AT HAYS | 1 | Recognized | ||
| LAURA | GARCIA SMIT | EL MAGNET AT HAYS | 1 | Recognized | ||
| BETTY | OVERTURF | EL MAGNET AT HAYS | 1 | Master | ||
| DEBORAH | PINA | EL MAGNET AT HAYS | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ASHLEY | ROJO | EL MAGNET AT HAYS | 1 | Recognized | ||
| CHRISTY | STARKES | EL MAGNET AT MILAM EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANNALISA | ZAPATA | EL MAGNET AT MILAM EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| YING | ZHAO | EL MAGNET AT MILAM EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| AMELIA | BARNES | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Master | ||
| CATALINA | BOBADILLA | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JENNIFER | CARRASCO | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| KELLY | DAVIS | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| CONNIE | DRAGER | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MARIA | FIERRO | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ERIN | FRANKLIN | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ABBY | GANN | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| JOHANA | GONZALEZ | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ASHLEY | HERRINGTON | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| JENA | HOPKINS | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MELANIE | KEY | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Master | ||
| JASMIN | RODRIGUEZ | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| TERESA | SPEER | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| BRANDY | TAYLOR | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| TRINICIA | WATSON | EL MAGNET AT REAGAN EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| VICTOR | GALVAN GUZMAN | G E ‘BUDDY’ WEST EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| NORA | GRIJALVA | G E ‘BUDDY’ WEST EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| JOHN | LUCIO | G E ‘BUDDY’ WEST EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ISABELLA | SOTO | G E ‘BUDDY’ WEST EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| NAPOLEON | ARMENDARIZ | GOLIAD EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MARIA | DELBOSQUE | GOLIAD EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANITA | MCKAY | GOLIAD EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANGELLE | MUNDIA | IRELAND EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| CHRISTY | PATRICK | IRELAND EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MARTI | SMITH | IRELAND EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANA | AHRENDT | L B JOHNSON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| PHYLLIS | FAULKNER | L B JOHNSON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JAMI | GATEWOOD | L B JOHNSON EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ELSA | CHACON | LAMAR EARLY EE-KG | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ARLENE | DENNEY | LAMAR EARLY EE-KG | 1 | Recognized | ||
| LINA | HERNANDEZ | LAMAR EARLY EE-KG | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| JENNIFER | MERRIMAN | LAMAR EARLY EE-KG | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SAMANTHA | BALLEJO | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JESSICA | BROWN | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MARY | CARRASCO | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| JENNIFER | CONNELL | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SARA | COX | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| DAVID | MORRIS | LEE BUICE EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MYRANDA | CLARK | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| KIMBERLY | FULTON | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| GABRIELA | HARRIS | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JACQUELINE | HERNANDEZ GARCIA | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ARLEEN | LIZARRAGA | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| GRISELDA | MONTES | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ARELY | MONTOYA | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| DAILYNN | PUENTE | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JEANETTE | RODRIGUEZ | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MEMREY | WHITE | MURRY FLY EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| EMMA | DOMINGUEZ | NIMITZ MIDDLE | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| KIMBERLY | JAMES | NIMITZ MIDDLE | 1 | Master | ||
| ANNABELLE | ROCHIN | NIMITZ MIDDLE | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MICHELLE | THOMAS | NIMITZ MIDDLE | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| PATRICIA | HOLGUIN | NOEL EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JELENE | BALLARD | ODESSA CAREER AND TECHNICAL EARLY | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| LAURIE | BRUNER | PEASE EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ANDREA | CUE BADIOLA | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SYDNEY | GARCIA | PEASE EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MARIA | GONZALEZ | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| SONIA | MARTIN VELICIAS | PEASE EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MATTHEW | MAXWELL | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| KRISTIE | MENDOZA | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MARIE | RAMOS | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| MAYRA | VENEGAS REYNOSO | PEASE EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JULIE | DRAINER | PERMIAN H S | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ROLANDO | GLORIA | PERMIAN H S | 1 | Recognized | ||
| TERI | RICHARDSON | PERMIAN H S | 1 | Recognized | ||
| DAWNNA | TALLEY | PERMIAN H S | 1 | Recognized | ||
| VANESSA | VAUGHN | PERMIAN H S | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| SHEILA | ARMSTRONG WILSON | ROSS EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| DANA | BATTEN | ROSS EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| ANDREA | BERNDT | ROSS EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| KELSA | BERTRAND | ROSS EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| MADDISON | KENNEDY | ROSS EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| PEDRO | LAGUNA-OJEDA | SAM HOUSTON EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| JULIE | LOERA | SAM HOUSTON EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| KAYLEA | BROOKS | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| CARNISHA | BROWN | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| AUDREY | CARRASCO | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Recognized | ||
| CHRISTINE | CARRILLO | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Master | ||
| MARGARET | DUTCHOVER | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| ANDREA | SALCIDO | SAN JACINTO EL | 1 | Exemplary | ||
| NAYLA | CARRASCO | WILSON & YOUNG MEDAL OF HONOR MIDD | 1 | Recognized | ||
| KAREN | VICORY | WILSON & YOUNG MEDAL OF HONOR MIDD | 1 | Recognized |
