AISD pursues teacher incentive program

Albany ISD trustees received a detailed update Monday night, March 9, on the district’s efforts to implement the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment program, a system that could significantly increase pay for highly effective teachers while allowing them to remain in the classroom.

Leigh Lowe presented the report, explaining that the Teacher Incentive Allotment, commonly known as TIA, is a state program that provides additional funding to school districts when teachers earn performance-based designations.

Lowe said implementing the program is a multi-year process and the district is currently in the application phase. During this stage, Albany ISD is developing its evaluation system and submitting a plan to the state outlining how teacher performance will be measured.

If approved, the 2026-27 school year would serve as a full year of data collection. During that time the district will gather information on teacher observations and student growth, which will later be submitted to Texas Tech for validation as part of the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment system before teachers can officially receive designations.

“This is application year,” Lowe told trustees. “Next year will be an entire year of data collection.”

Teachers can earn several levels of designation through the program, including recognized, exemplary and master teacher. By the time Albany ISD completes the process, a fourth level, acknowledged teacher, is also expected to be added statewide.

Each designation carries a state-funded allotment that can significantly increase a teacher’s earnings. Once earned, the designation remains in place for five years. Teachers may move to a higher level if their performance improves, but they cannot lose the designation during that period.

Under Albany ISD’s proposed plan, 90 percent of the allotment would go directly to the teacher who earned the designation, while up to 10 percent could be used by the district for training, professional development or other costs required to administer the program.

Teacher evaluations will be based on two primary factors, with classroom observation accounting for 60 percent and student growth making up the remaining 40 percent.

The observation portion will come through the existing T-TESS evaluation system. Measuring student growth has required additional planning since different subjects require different types of evaluation.

Lowe said the district plans to use MAP testing data in many academic areas to measure progress, while other classes such as physical education or specialized courses will rely on alternative growth measures.

“That student growth measure has been the hardest part to work on,” Lowe said.

The district already has one teacher with a TIA designation who transferred to Albany from another district and will continue receiving the allotment tied to that designation.

Lowe said the district’s plan is due to the state in April, with approval expected by June. If approved, trustees will later review and adopt a handbook outlining how the program will operate locally.

Superintendent Daryl Stuard commended Lowe for leading the effort.

“This is not a small thing that we’re trying to do,” Lowe said. “But if we do it right, it can make a huge difference in our teacher salaries.”

Bond election

meetings planned

Stuard reported that the district will host two town hall meetings to discuss the proposed school bond election.

The meetings are scheduled for March 25 and April 23, with one meeting planned at Nancy Smith Elementary School and the other at Albany Junior/Senior High School.

Stuard said he is also willing to meet individually with residents who want to ask questions about the proposal or tour school facilities.

The architectural firm working with the district is currently preparing informational flyers and a website to provide details about the bond project as the election approaches.

Facilities updates

Several facility issues were discussed during the meeting.

An exterminator recently worked to seal openings in the old gym in an effort to address ongoing bat problems. Maintenance crews are repairing gutters after heavy rain revealed leaks in the building.

The district has submitted a purchase order for new bleachers, and a donor recently increased a contribution from $100,000 to $150,000 to help add backs to the visitor seating and possibly construct a sidewalk connecting the visitor and home sides of the stadium.