Effective Teachers

Recruiting Teachers

To ensure all students have access to the most effective teachers, districts must have a strong applicant pool. Districts that struggle to attract effective teachers begin the hiring process at a disadvantage as they have fewer qualified applicants from which to choose. The resources listed below provide recommendations and strategies for attracting effective teachers.

Resources

The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF) was established in March 2022 by Governor Abbott to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges across Texas. Through examining research and evidence, considering the perspectives of educators across the state, and continuous stakeholder input, the TVTF developed recommendations focused on support for teachers in the key areas of teacher compensation, training and support, and working conditions.

Grow Your Own: Texas Education Agency  (GYO) supports LEAs to intentionally build strong, stable and varied teacher pipelines from within their own communities.

Elevating Support for Texas Rural and Small Schools This document, created by the Rural Schools Taskforce in 2017,  identifies current challenges and best practices for rural schools and districts to meet the needs of Texas rural students.

Assigning Teachers

Matching teachers to the most appropriate placements ensures all students are taught by teachers certified in that area of instruction. In addition, districts must balance teacher experience in making assignments, so all students have access to effective educators. The resources listed below provide recommendations and strategies for assigning teachers.

Resources

Teacher Vacancy Task Force Final Report, February 2023 The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF) was established in March 2022 by Governor Abbott to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges across Texas. Through examining research and evidence, considering the perspectives of educators across the state, and continuous stakeholder input, the TVTF developed recommendations focused on support for teachers in the key areas of teacher compensation, training and support, and working conditions.

Teacher Assignment Chart This document provides the State Board for Educator Certification’s requirements for teacher assignment.

Supporting Teachers

Districts must provide teachers high-quality training, mentoring, and supports to ensure effective teachers continue to perform well and have access to strategies to address new challenges. In addition, by supporting new, less experienced teachers, districts build the skills and qualifications of their teacher pool. The resources listed below provide recommendations and strategies for supporting teachers.

Resources

Teacher Vacancy Task Force Final Report, February 2023 The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF) was established in March 2022 by Governor Abbott to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges across Texas. Through examining research and evidence, considering the perspectives of educators across the state, and continuous stakeholder input, the TVTF developed recommendations focused on support for teachers in the key areas of teacher compensation, training and support, and working conditions.

Principal Residency Grant This grant program seeks to provide LEAs with an opportunity to increase the number of well-prepared instructional leaders by building sustainable leadership pipelines and growing quality principal residency programs.

Mentor Program Allotment House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019, amended statute that previously existed on new teacher mentoring and created the Mentor Program Allotment (MPA).

The Texas Strategic Staffing for Sustainable, Paid Teacher Residency Programs Grant is a two-year grant to districts and charters, designed to provide direct technical assistance and other supports to districts/charters and educator preparation program (EPP) partnerships to design and implement paid, year-long high-quality, sustainable teacher residencies across SY 2025-2026 and SY 2026-2027.

Retaining Teachers

To ensure effective teachers do not leave the district or the profession, districts must identify strategies and supports that encourage teachers to continue their work. The resources listed below provide recommendations and strategies for retaining effective teachers.

Resources

Teacher Vacancy Task Force Final Report, February 2023 The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF) was established in March 2022 by Governor Abbott to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges across Texas. Through examining research and evidence, considering the perspectives of educators across the state, and continuous stakeholder input, the TVTF developed recommendations focused on support for teachers in the key areas of teacher compensation, training and support, and working conditions.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment elevates the education profession by providing districts with systems and funding to recruit promising new teachers, retain their best teachers, and incentivize teachers to work in high-needs schools and difficult-to-staff positions. TIA is built to provide lasting funds for outstanding Texas teachers to remain in the classroom and improve student outcomes.