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

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.

Grow Your Own: Texas Education Agency The Grow Your Own program aims to elevate the teaching profession in Texas to increase the pool and diversity of Texas’ future classroom leaders.

Elevating Support for Texas Rural and Small Schools This document 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 equal 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 TEA’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 experience 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, diverse 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).

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.