Some teachers to earn over $100,000 for 2023-24 school year!
Longview ISD is awarding more than $7.3 million in incentive pay for achieving teachers, with a few of the very highest-performing teachers projected to receive more than $30,000 extra in their December paychecks!
As a result of this incentive program, 11 classroom teachers will make over $100,000 this year!
"We're thrilled with the excellent progress all our teachers and staff are making with students across the entire district," said Dr. James Wilcox, Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Wilcox said the goal of the district in starting the program was to maintain our most successful and effective teachers in the regular classroom.
"We could not be more excited to see our teachers receive these dollar amounts," he said. "But our students are the real winners!"
Incentive bonus distribution will come in "lump sum" disbursement beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 19th.
The program is funded by the district's fund balance, as approved by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees.
Ms. Shalona McCray, LISD Chief Human Resources Officer, explained that the district utilizes LISD's aggressive local pay structures and the Longview Incentive For Teachers (LIFT) program, to make this possible for our hard-working education professionals.
"We have some amazing teachers who go the extra mile and the LIFT Program allows the district to show our deep appreciation for the amazing work they are doing," she said. "Our students perform better, our teachers make more money. It's as simple as that."
Longview ISD schools earned 53 total distinctions on accountability ratings in 2022, according to the Texas Education Agency. An increase from the 51 distinctions earned the previous year, and yet again one of the highest numbers of distinctions for any school system in East Texas.
Campuses are awarded distinctions for achievement in several areas based on performance relative to a group of 40 other campuses in Texas (campus comparison group) that are of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics. Districts and campuses that receive an accountability rating of A, B, C, or D are eligible to earn distinction designations. However, the only distinction a district may earn is postsecondary readiness, which Longview ISD received.
Longview ISD campuses earned 52 out of 70 possible distinctions, as well as the district-wide distinction in postsecondary readiness, bringing the total number of distinctions to 53.
Ms. McCray explained that, in addition to the LIFT Program, the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) provides a realistic pathway to pay outstanding teachers six-figure salaries.
"As such, it will dramatically improve the recruitment and retention of highly effective teachers and keep them in the classroom at our most challenging campuses," she said. "Teacher Incentive Allotment compensation will be paid in addition to the current Longview Incentive for Teachers (LIFT) program."
Longview ISD was ahead of the curve back in 2011, when trustees voted to implement a performance pay system for middle school reading and math teachers. Designed to help close the achievement gap between low socio-economic and middle-income students, today the LIFT Pay for Performance Program includes three award models, and has proven instrumental in retaining high-quality educators.
Incentive pay for Longview ISD teachers has increased dramatically since the $350,000 awarded in the first year of the program back in 2015.