COCISD lauds teachers with incentives

COLDSPRING — Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD had 14 teachers receive designations through the Teacher Incentive Allotment for improvement last week.

The achievement reflects their dedication to our students, hard work, and commitment to excellence in education.

TIA is a transformative Texas Education Agency initiative designed to elevate the teaching profession and reward outstanding educators. It was established to provide exceptional teachers, especially in rural school communities, with an accessible pathway to a six-figure salary.

Unlike previous education programs, the TIA is not a grant. Instead, it operates through approved local designation systems, allowing districts to identify and recognize outstanding teachers based on three key components: student growth, instructional effectiveness as measured by T-TESS Classroom Observations, and teacher attendance.

Winning were:

Master Designated Teacher: Approximately: $22,900

• Mikala Burns - JSE

Exemplary Designated Teachers: Approximately: $12,000

• Ashley Anderson - JSE
• Kristi Byrd - JSE
• Kaitlin Cook - COHS
• Erika Crain - JSE
• Debbie Gladden - COHS
• Brenna Guntrum - JSE
• Deanne Schweitzer - CIS
• Ashlie Taylor - COHS
• Tiffany Williford - JSE

Recognized Designated Teachers: Approximately: $6,100

• Amelia Allen - CIS
• Tammy Betancourt - LJH
• Thomas Boucher - LJH
• Tammy Loving - CIS

At a COCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 24, incentive payments for the two teachers who would become teacher of the year.

Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton said that teachers compete for the honor, and at the end of the school year, the board will select an elementary and a secondary teacher of the year.

The board approved a $1,000 stipend to be given to the winners.

In other business, the trustees:

• approved a resolution to pay people who were unable to report to work because of Winter Storm Eno; •cancelled the May election, as incumbent board members Berlin Bradford and Tony Sewell were the only candidates;
• approved changes to school policy;
• approved bridge courses for students transitioning between elementary and junior high schools and junior high and high school;
• approved a targeted improvement plan;
• approved changes to pay plan; and
• approved district and campus level administrators’ contracts.

The board also discussed a new development on FM 1725 that will bring residents into the district, and the district needs to plan for an influx of students.