Saint Jo ISD

We are excited to share that 9 Saint Jo ISD teachers were recently awarded a designation under the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) by the Texas Education Agency. These teachers were recently recognized at the district end of year luncheon and school board meeting for this accomplishment.

This is the first group of teachers eligible for a designation at Saint Jo ISD under the new Local Designation System, following the multi-year application process. The process started with system development and an application that had to pass statutory and regulatory requirements, followed by a full year of implementation to capture teacher performance data. In the fall of 2023 Saint Jo ISD submitted data to be validated by Texas Tech University and holistically reviewed by TEA for full system approval, which resulted in these new teacher designations.

TIA allows school districts to designate and reward top-performing teachers. Through the approved local designation system, the district can identify and submit outstanding teachers based on student growth and classroom observation to TEA for designation. Teachers can earn one of three levels of designation – Recognized, Exemplary, or Master.

Designated teachers, left to right: Janna Spruill, Cassidy Berry, Kristal Nobile, Leslie Baker, J.J. Johnson, Misty Frost, Jill Hunt, Kristi Sharp, and Jake Booth.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) gives teachers an accessible pathway to earning a higher income while remaining in the classroom, allowing them to make a greater difference in the lives of Texas students. TIA elevates the teaching profession and allows districts to celebrate their top performing teachers with compensation and recognition through teacher designations.

“The TIA program is an affirmation of the excellent instruction provided in our classrooms to our students across the district,” noted Superintendent Katie Morman. “We are proud of the work that our educators do every day on behalf of those whom we serve. This is yet another achievement for Saint Jo ISD and the many staff members who dedicate themselves to our students.”