Teachers get big bucks for student growth
May 19—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
