Hello Families,
Hope you are having a great week!
Join us this Saturday, Feb. 22 for a budget talk! Your thoughts really matter and make a difference, so don’t miss it. Check out the details.
…and learn about the role of the Ombuds office in Austin ISD at next week’s Tools for Success session.
Now, let's get started with this edition…
Our teachers will now have opportunities to benefit from this state program, which rewards top-performing teachers with higher salaries, helping attract and retain incredible talent. In Austin ISD, recognizing and compensating our teachers is a huge part of our mission, vision, and values.
How it works: TIA designates high-performing teachers as Recognized, Exemplary, or Master based on appraisal and student growth data submitted by Austin ISD.
These designations bring additional funding to the district, with 90% going directly to the teacher if they stay in a TIA-eligible role.
Eligible Teachers can earn $3,000–$28,000 per year through TIA.
We’re using a phased-in approach for implementation. For our first year, Austin ISD analyzed the 2023–24 appraisal and student growth data for general education teachers in the following roles:
K-3 Reading
K-3 Math
STAAR Math, Grades 4-8
STAAR Reading, Grades 4-8
STAAR Science, Grade 5
STAAR Science, Grade 8
STAAR Social Studies, Grade 8
STAAR EOC: English I
STAAR EOC: English II
STAAR EOC: Algebra I
STAAR EOC: Biology
STAAR EOC: U.S. History
From those positions, over 600 teachers representing 95% of our campuses met the approved appraisal and student growth standards to be submitted for TIA designation.
What’s next?
Eligible teachers will receive notification once final allotments are released by TEA.
This year we’re capturing data for Special Education teachers and Content/Dyslexia Interventionist roles supporting the general education areas implemented in our first year so that we can expand our TIA eligibility in 2025-26.
All teachers remain part of our locally-funded Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) for additional compensation.
The big picture: Austin ISD is committed to leading Central Texas in teacher recognition, retention, and compensation. This is just the beginning of a new era for our educators and students.
Editor's Note: The following story was published in this week's edition of Joy Diaz's Leader Letter
It’s been more than 30 years since Sue Spears Martin went on a field trip that gifted her with a life purpose.
Let me set the scene.
Back in the early 90s Spears Martin was PTA President at the former Sims Elementary.
Not only did her kids attend Sims but Sims was also Spears Martin’s school when she was a little girl. As PTA President, she knew parents worried because kids from the neighborhood had to cross through a rather dilapidated, rough-looking field to get to school every day.
“Parents reported the grass was high, there was drug activity in the area,” she says. “One day, I decided to walk the trail and noticed that some stones were higher than me. When I did some research I found out this wasn’t a field, it was a cemetery!”
The historic Bethany Cemetery is the resting place of many enslaved people.
This piece of news changed Spears Martin’s outlook completely.
“Cemeteries aren’t places to fear but pieces of history.”
Fear was replaced by indignation.
Why had the world abandoned Bethany Cemetery?
Restoring Bethany became her mission.
Since then, Spears Martin has organized clean-ups, applied for grants and even pieced together some of the stories of the people who lay there.
One of the stories she unearthed from this urban jungle was the story of Nancy Burns — a woman who died 148 years ago. Thanks to Spears Martin, the words on Burns’ headstone are visible once again.
Burns' grave, before
Grave during restoration
Burns' grave, after
Nancy Burns.
Wife of JH Burns
Oct 12, 1876
As a wife, devoted. As a mother, affectionate.
As a friend, ever kind and true.
In life she exhibited all the graces of a Christian.
In death her redeemed spirit returned to God who gave.
Burns died 11 years after slavery ended.
If you fast forward to today, you’ll learn that Spears Martin is now a grandmother. When Spears Martin’s grand babies visit her, she asks each of them (from the youngest who is 4 to the eldest who is 14) that they help preserve Bethany Cemetery. Why? Because somebody has to. Because she’s seen what happens when people forget.
“These people are not our family but they are our people. They built what is now our freedom and they deserve a clean place to rest.”
Would YOU like to help Spears Martin clean and preserve Bethany? Visit the cemetery this coming Saturday. Bring your gloves and tools.
This is love in action.
This is a labor of love.
//Joy Díaz ❤️
Join us for our upcoming budget meetings
School districts in Central Texas are coming together to support families of students with disabilities at this year’s Destination Life Transition Conference.
Why it matters: Our schools are a safe and welcoming place where many students with disabilities learn from early childhood through adulthood. This conference helps families find the next step for their children to be successful as they transition out of the public school system.
What to expect: Engaging presentation, 80 plus disability agencies and vendors, information and training sessions, speakers, networking opportunities, exhibitions, and food. In addition, Spanish and Deaf/Hard of Hearing interpretation will be provided.
The details: Communities from Austin ISD, Georgetown ISD, Hutto ISD, Jarrell ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, Liberty Hill ISD, Pflugerville ISD and Round Rock ISD are invited to attend.
The event will be held 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at McNeil High School, 5720 McNeil Dr., Austin TX 78729.
Register for the event to get all the latest information.
For more information on the event and what resources will be provided visit the Destination Life website.
Learn more about the transition services at Austin ISD.
ConnectFEST is a community event aimed at connecting families with educational programs, services, and support systems within our schools, and strengthening the bond between the community and Austin ISD.
National African American Heritage Month - Feb. 1 to Feb. 28
Austin ISD Budget Talks- Feb. 22
Food Service & Warehouse Workers Appreciation Week- Feb. 24-28
Webb Middle School Community Dinner and Conversationp- Feb. 24
Head Start Policy Council Meeting- Feb. 25
Sadler Means YWLA Middle School Community Dinner and Conversation- Feb. 25
Tools for Success / Herramientas para el éxito/Ombuds and You: Feb. 26
2025 African American Heritage Celebration- Feb. 26
Board Regular Voting Meeting- Feb. 27
For more events, please visit the Calendar of Events website.
Anderson High School to start renovations on athletics area, entrance and more- Community Impact
Austin school district enacts spending, hiring freezes amid growing $110M budget deficit- Statesman
This week’s temperatures took me back to my Midwest days, and honestly, I don’t miss those below-zero temperatures. So, I’m thankful this cold weather is only sticking around for a few days.
What I love most about working in Austin ISD is seeing all the amazing talent from students. This week, I had the chance to enjoy and celebrate the Northeast Early College High School Soul Riders Marching Band, who came to the Central Office to share their music with us in celebration of African American History Month.
...and the countdown to my baby’s due date has officially started! I’ve got two weeks left, if she decides to hold off until the date they gave me. If you don’t hear from me next week, it means she is here!!!
Have a great weekend and be safe!
Nayeli 💛
Have a story idea?
Got a great story about an Austin ISD student, staff, parent, or community member? Share it with us! It could be featured on our website, in our newsletters, on social media, or even on the news!
For questions or comments please email me at nayeli.santoyoflores@austinisd.org
For languages other than English and Spanish, we use an AI-powered translation tool. As a result, there may be some contextual inaccuracies or other errors. We apologize for this. Please email translation@austinisd.org if you are in need of clarification. To change your preferred correspondence language, contact your school's front office.