As Houston ISD makes a move to round up a squadron of educators for its 2024-25 school term, it’s dangling a carrot of up to $90,000 for some high school teachers, the Houston Chronicle reports, HISD eyes certified talent and pledges support to incoming teachers, with applicants required to submit resumes, cover letters, and their creds online, a process open to those hungry to shape young minds. The district ain’t just hunting for anyone, though; a bachelor’s degree and a Texas Teacher Certificate are must-haves.
HISD's struggles with a teacher deficit had them once upon a time filling up classrooms with uncertified educators and long-term subs, but this time, they're on the lookout for certified folks to create "conducive to learning" spaces and to drive home the district's educational ideals. The list of duties goes on, besides the requirement for a degree, experience is not on the table, and the full lowdown can be found on HISD's website, according to the Chronicle.
It ain’t all about Houston, though, as Hutto ISD, just north of the city's spreading a different sort of news—revealing updates on the use of school chaplains and some sweet incentives to woo new educators and bring existing ones to bring pals aboard. A cool $500 could land in the pockets of Hutto ISD employees for a successful referral, Community Impact details.
Teachers in HISD's New Education System (NES), which is getting beefed up to include more schools next year, could also be riding high on the hog with higher salaries like those hefty $90k for specific high school roles, not to mention all NES schools are clocking in longer hours, from before sunrise till after the traditional end of the school day. The compensation plan HISD let loose earlier this month sets the bar based on teacher experience with newbies at non-NES schools looking at a $64,000 starting line, figures courtesy of HISD.
Meanwhile, Hutto ISD's board kicking into compliance with Senate Bill 763 now let chaplains to volunteer—without being hired as counselors solely because they rock the religious rep—while still leaving the door ajar for those with the right qualifications to hop on board the ISD ship in other capacities, the compliant move and chaplain policy confirmed during a board meeting on Feb 22 as per Community Impact. Hutto's got other plans, too, like dishing out a hiring bonus for HISD grads and roping in more incentives for top-notch teachers labeled by the Texas Education Agency; Superintendent Raúl Peña is hinting at even more cash perks on the horizon.
