And…graduation is a few months away but it's never too early to start preparing! If you're an Austin ISD employee and have a graduating senior walking across the stage this June, you're welcome to sign up to be a Guest Diploma Presenter during your student's graduation.
Now, let's get started!
Big news: Austin ISD accepted into the Teacher Incentive Allotment program!
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.
Austin ISD celebrates Pride Week
Pride week is one of the many ways we highlight the district's commitment to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all.
Why it matters: When students feel safe and can show up as their full selves at school, they’re better able to engage in learning and thrive academically.
What to expect: This year's celebration is March 24–28. Campuses may participate in Pride-themed spirit activities outside instructional time. Pride themes will be shared with campuses the week of Feb. 24.
Activities should be voluntary in nature for students and staff.
Campus administrators should communicate their Pride activities to families by Friday, March 7.
What’s new? This year, pride-themed activities will take place outside instructional time such as before or after school, during lunch, morning meetings or advisory.
This means the district will not provide a Blend course with suggested classroom activities as in years past.
While district-purchased swag will not be provided this year, PTAs and other organizations can still fund and distribute materials to celebrate.
Why in March? Both National Pride Month and the Austin Pride Parade take place in the summer when students are not in school.
Austin ISD hosts Pride Week during the school year to show support for our diverse students, staff and families.
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.
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.
Burn's grave, before
Grave during restoration
Burns' grave, after
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.
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.
We are three weeks away from Spring Break, but who's counting?
In the meantime, we have much to celebrate and look forward to in the next few weeks.
Next Wednesday the district will be celebrating the academic achievements of our students and the dedication and leadership of our staff at the African American Heritage Celebration! I will be there and look forward to seeing you there as well!
For questions or comments you may email me at jorge.maldonado@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.
