(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – Oct. 23, 2026) — El Paso ISD is significantly expanding opportunities for teachers to earn recognition and performance-based financial rewards through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). The district aims to increase the number of designated teachers from 16 today to 1,500 by June 2031, reinforcing its commitment to attracting, retaining and celebrating exceptional educators.
The District shared an update on the program with the Board of Trustees on Oct. 12, outlining plans to expand access, provide ongoing support and ensure teachers are evaluated through a fair and transparent process.
Created by the Texas Legislature, TIA provides eligible teachers with an opportunity to earn designations based on their teaching effectiveness and student growth. The program helps recognize outstanding educators while supporting the District’s efforts to attract and retain talented teachers.
“Receiving the TIA Master designation meant more to me than just receiving an incentive,” said Noemi Gonzalez, a mathematics teacher at Canyon Hills Middle School. “After many years of putting my heart into teaching and doing everything I can to help my students succeed, it was very meaningful to have that hard work recognized.”
The District currently identifies over 2,000 eligible teachers and seven approved student growth measures across prekindergarten through Grade 12. Support for teachers includes campus training, on-site assistance, online office hours and individual help with questions about the program. Teachers can find additional information about eligibility, designations and program requirements on the El Paso ISD Teacher Incentive Allotment website.
TIA offers four designation levels: Acknowledged, which is available to National Board Certified teachers, Recognized, Exemplary and Master. At El Paso ISD campuses, estimated average annual allotments per designated teacher are $5,619 for Acknowledged, $9,364 for Recognized, $15,983 for Exemplary and $22,475 for Master. Actual amounts vary by campus and depend on state funding factors.
“Our goal is to give more teachers across El Paso ISD the opportunity to be recognized for the difference they make in their classrooms. As we expand the program, we are committed to making the process clear, fair, and accessible, while providing teachers with the guidance and support they need along the way,” said Neil Novoa, Director of the Teacher Incentive Allotment in Human Resources.
El Paso ISD plans to expand TIA opportunities during the 2027–28 school year to additional areas, including Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education, foreign language, electives and specialized classrooms.
The timeline calls for teachers’ growth and evaluation information to be collected during the 2026–27 school year, followed by scorecard verification and appeals in summer 2027. State validation will follow, with lump-sum payments planned by Aug. 31, 2028. El Paso ISD notes that payment timing depends on the state validation process. Under the program, 90% of each generated allotment goes to teacher compensation.
TIA is also the foundation for a broader strategic compensation effort at El Paso ISD. The district is developing a new principal compensation system that connects principal pay to leadership, student outcomes and campus culture. Data collection is underway during the 2026–27 school year, and the system will be phased in over several years to give campus leaders time to learn the process and provide feedback.
Over time, El Paso ISD plans to extend this approach to other campus leaders and teachers, creating an aligned system that recognizes and rewards the people driving student success. El Paso ISD is the first district in Region 19 to pursue this approach.
Through this effort, El Paso ISD aims to create more pathways for teachers and principals to be recognized and rewarded for their impact on students.