MAY 11, 2023 – In a momentous occasion, Silsbee Independent School District administrators proudly handed out more than 30 checks this week to teachers who received the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). This noteworthy recognition, established by Texas House Bill 3, honors effective educators at three distinct levels: Recognized, Exemplary, and Master. These designations generate additional teacher-focused and state-funded allotments for districts, allowing them to reward their top-performing teachers.
Silsbee ISD's implementation of a fully-funded and functioning local designation plan for the Teacher Incentive Allotment is a monumental achievement. Among the districts in Region 5, Silsbee ISD is one of only three districts to have successfully established such a plan.
Earlier this year, Silsbee ISD received confirmation from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that an impressive total of 31 teachers had qualified for the local designation and its associated incentive allotment. These dedicated educators, spread across various schools within the district, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their craft and have been duly recognized for their accomplishments.
Here is the list of teachers who achieved designations under the Teacher Incentive Allotment program:
Laura Reeves Primary/Silsbee Elementary:
- Ellen Byars – Recognized
- Katy Bailey – Recognized
- Christa Bennefield – Recognized
- Shanna Bonnette – Exemplary
- Celess Dickert - Recognized
- Jessica Dudley - Exemplary
- Rachel Fuller - Recognized
- Maggie Hawk - Recognized
- Olicia Johnson - Recognized
- Veronica Lightfoot - Exemplary
- Melinda Lowe - Exemplary
- Janice Marshall - Recognized
- Haley McDonald - Exemplary
- Elizabeth Parsley - Exemplary
- Carol Patterson - Recognized
- Melinda Piper - Exemplary
- Christina Powell – Master
- Mary Richter - Recognized
- Amanda Rulon – Recognized
- Brittany Thompson – Recognized
- Teshauna Turk – Master
- Dominique West - Recognized
Edwards-Johnson Memorial SMS:
- Mara Campbell – Recognized
- Dee Anna Gray - Recognized
- Judith Landis - Master
- Haley Morgan - Recognized
- Alison Taylor - Exemplary
- Angela Whisenhant - Recognized
Silsbee High School:
- Peggy Burnthorn – Exemplary
- Dianne Guillory – Master
- Bridgett Hicks – Exemplary
Designation levels are determined based on a combination of student growth measures and teacher evaluation. Silsbee ISD utilizes MAP Growth testing as the student growth data component and the T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System) process for teacher evaluations. Each designation level receives a different funding amount.
The Teacher Incentive Allotment Local Designation becomes a part of the teacher's professional certificate. On May 26, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will update the digital certificates of each designated teacher to reflect their respective levels of designation. This designation remains valid for five years, during which a teacher can increase their level of designation.
The total funding allocated to Silsbee ISD teachers for the Teacher Incentive Allotment program this year amounts to $317,562.30. This sum has been distributed among the listed teachers based on their designation levels, contributing to their well-deserved recognition and appreciation.
The breakdown of funding by campus is as follows:
Broken down by campus:
Laura Reeves Primary/Silsbee Elementary: $214,863.30
Edwards-Johnson Memorial SMS: $57,662.10
Silsbee High School: $45,036.90
Superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss stated, “I am proud of the academic excellence demonstrated by the 31 teachers earning a local designation. Moreover, I proud of the collaborative work between district administration and campus teachers in developing a designation plan that has allowed Silsbee ISD to capitalize on additional outside funding for the purpose of recognizing outstanding teachers.”
As a district, we are very excited about the opportunity to support this designation process for teachers. We are also committed to expanding the subjects and grade levels that can qualify for the program. This hinges on finding accurate methods for measuring individual student growth in those areas. We look forward to partnering with teachers in the near future to design and implement local designation pathways in all subject areas and grade levels.