Sherman ISD is slated to receive additional state funds to reward top teachers. 

The district’s application to participate in the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was approved by the Texas Education Agency this summer, paving the way for SISD to begin paying the state stipends in June 2026 pending further review. 

TIA was established by the Texas Legislature in 2019 to help attract and retain highly effective teachers and provide incentives to teach at traditionally hard-to-staff schools. Districts that chose to participate must create local teacher designation systems that measure teacher effectiveness based on observation and student growth data. 

In Sherman ISD, teachers who are identified as recognized, exemplary or master teachers may receive payments ranging from about $5,000 to $24,000 per year in addition to their salary. The amount would vary by designation level and campus and is adjusted each year based on the number of economically disadvantaged students at each school.

SISD is eager to provide this new pathway for teachers to earn higher salaries and hopes it may help the district address a nationwide teacher shortage.

“Teachers invest so much time, effort and money into helping students be successful,” said Chief Academic Officer Amy Pesina. “We want to encourage them to come to Sherman ISD, reward them for their hard work and incentivize them to stay in our classrooms.” 

The program will be implemented in Sherman ISD in three phases, with data capture beginning this school year for the first round of eligible teachers. 

In addition to the local teacher designation system, TIA also pays stipends to teachers who have earned National Board Certification at the recognized level for five years. Once a certification is earned, TEA will reimburse $1,900 to cover the fees paid while seeking certification. 

Sherman ISD’s TIA plan was developed through a series of meetings in spring 2024 involving staff from across the district, and eligible teachers have received a survey seeking further input about the program. 

For more details, visit tiatexas.org or review Sherman ISD’s 2024-25 TIA Handbook.