Conroe ISD has expanded its Teacher Incentive Program to include over 200 educators, offering significant pay raises to attract and retain high-performing teachers at economically disadvantaged campuses. This initiative aims to address funding gaps and enhance educational quality.
Six years after Texas lawmakers paved the way for high-performing teachers to get significant pay increases, Conroe ISD is improving its Teacher Incentive Program, which currently benefits over 200 educators. Program organizer Terral Jackson revealed that 267 educators from 26 campuses are taking part in this effort, which aims to draw and keep talent in schools with low socioeconomic status.
The initiative fills in budget shortages while district assistance from the state is lacking. The Conroe ISD board adopted a new $711.97 million budget last month; however, it is $11.9 million short of what is needed and does not contain any additional state cash or employee raises.
Teachers can receive their designations in one of two ways: by passing the district's locally defined system, which was created using necessary components from the Texas Education Agency, or by earning a national board certification. Usually, the certification procedure takes two years.
Participating teachers receive annual allotments that range from $3,000 to $32,000, depending on the proportion of economically disadvantaged students in their schools. The district receives payment for these money from the state. The initiative, which was started in 2019 under House Bill 3, has been successful in rewarding and keeping outstanding teachers in areas with high needs.
Conroe Independent School District trustees are voicing strong opposition to a new state law that would allow homeschooled students to participate in UIL extracurricular competitions through local public schools, citing equity and staffing concerns.
Harris County officials are alerting the public to a surge in online scams following the devastating Hill Country floods. A recent fake GoFundMe page impersonating a victim’s family member has prompted a broader warning about digital fraud in times of crisis.
Claire Reese Manchaca, a 21-year-old Conroe native and Caney Creek High School graduate, was among the victims of the devastating Fourth of July flooding in the Texas Hill Country. On Wednesday, law enforcement led an emotional procession to bring her body home to Conroe, and the grieving community embraced her.