March TIA updates

What’s New: TIA and T-TESS

After months of stakeholder engagement aimed at designing HISD’s TIA program, the Talent Office is partnering with leaders across the district to write the TIA application, which will be submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in April as part of Cohort F. In February, the Talent team launched an Implementation Task Force composed of leaders from across departments. This month, that team reviewed a complete draft of the application to ensure that it was aligned to their department’s plans. The task force has been finalizing outstanding details for the application and planning for TIA administration once approved. You can expect more details on HISD’s progress in the coming months.

T-TESS Feedback Survey

During the March principals meeting, principals provided feedback on the implementation of the T-TESS to date. These data helped identify what was going well, what could be improved, and where HISD should invest for professional learning in 2023-2024. One principal summed up the implementation to date as, “All areas are a work in progress, but I feel we are at a better place as we continue the implementation.” This sentiment was echoed by many principals who described appreciation to coach teachers and have nuanced conversations with the T-TESS rubric. Most principals described having limited time to do this work. These data will be used to refine the current T-TESS system in accordance with our Board Policy and ultimately focus on promoting teacher growth.

T-TESS End-of-Year Conferences

Teachers will participate in the End-of-Year (EOY) Conference with their appraisers by April 28, 2023.

End-of-Year Conferences provide an opportunity for appraisers and the teachers to:

• Celebrate professional progress and area of reinforcement
• Discuss area of refinement and next steps
• Review final observation data for Domains 1, 2, & 3
• Share and discuss evidence for Domain 4, including attainment of goal(s) and follow-through with activities from the Goal-Setting and Professional Development Plan
• Review and discuss new goal(s) and professional development plans

Teachers hired on or after Feb. 3 will not participate in an EOY Conference.

About the TIA

Two years ago, HISD announced its plan to apply for the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Since then, we’ve engaged HISD teachers, administrators, and staff in technical and design committees, administered stakeholder surveys, and held feedback groups to inform the details of HISD’s TIA design and implementation. Each month, we provide a monthly update to our community. All previous communication can be found on the TIA website.

TIA is a state-run initiative that supports the recruitment, retention, and placement of teachers through performance-based bonuses, particularly in high-needs districts and schools. TIA will increase the total funds available in HISD for teacher compensation, support staff in schools where ongoing collaboration translates to student learning, and help us collectively ensure every child is served with excellence and equity.

HISD plans a phased approach to TIA implementation over several years with the goal of having all teachers eventually eligible to be able to earn designation. In SY 2023-2024, teachers across all HISD campuses with select assessments will be eligible to earn designation. In future years, TIA will expand to teachers across additional subjects and grade levels. Given feedback from teachers that showed strong support for sharing TIA funds, non-designated teachers and teacher assistants at designated teachers’ campuses will also have the opportunity to benefit from TIA in Year 1 and beyond.

In April, T-TESS Ambassadors will attend a Training-of-Trainers (TOT) on an informational TIA Orientation which they will deliver on their campuses before the end of the school year in preparation for SY 2023-2024.

Thank you for all of your work and engagement. Please reach out to TIA@houstonisd.org with any questions or concerns.