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The Elgin Independent School District’s human capital department has implemented new strategies to better help staff recruitment efforts.
The innovations target pay structure, establish new programs and put a focus on new-to-profession graduates.
Alongside targeted social media outreach and its boosting tech and implemented analytics, approved paid student teaching has filled openings with young professionals.
“The costs to become a teacher while you are in college, trying to pay your bills, getting through that last student teacher year, it’s very prohibitive,” said Al Rodriguez, assistant superintendent for the human capital department.
A student teacher or clinical teacher can make a minimum of $7,250 per semester with the new offerings, as well as possible tuition reimbursement and student loan forgiveness.
“This has helped us recruit teachers and reach further out,” added Rodriguez
Student teaching requirements for a university are typically met before a semester is finished. From there, participants can choose to finish out the school year for a potential job offering or return to Elgin ISD later on with the experience they gained
The department ’s “Grow Your Own” program has also seen success, working with existing district students.
Over the last two years, 65 Elgin High School graduates have been hired, including 16 teachers and others in alternative certification programs, working as classroom aids, clerical positions and as substitute teachers.
Additionally, Elgin ISD has joined an international teaching program and attended job fairs at Texas State, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech and more
This has helped the district recruit beyond the immediate area significantly.
All new teachers are placed in a series of programs when they join Elgin ISD, including the three-day-long “ Wildcat Academy,” which the department improved dramatically this year, according to Rodriguez
During the programs, teachers can get to know the campus, and learn about the district and community. They receive the materials and devices they will be using throughout the year, and information on student services, how to support learners outside of traditional classwork, aid for emerging bilingual students, how to do guided readings and use of AI in classrooms.
After the academy and designated district and campus professional development days, around 82% of participants agree that they were given enough time for training, according to the department. District leaders are set on seeing that this number continues to rise.
A staff wellness program is scheduled to launch soon, as well, with self-guided resources to help improve focus, nutrition, well-being, emotional fitness and more.
Behind all of the effort to boost professional learning and create a highly effective staff is a revamp of the district’s pay structure.
A salary study approved by the board last year has helped target each position and get compensation closer to market level, now able to recruit individual positions more actively and successfully.
The structure was reconstructed alongside pay increases to a more apt step system, acting as a pipeline for those who want to be upwardly mobile, according to the assistant superintendent. Salary increases by taking on additional leadership roles.
Texas has been suffering from a shortage of teachers as a whole, a talking point of Gov. Greg Abbott. Time will tell if these changes will be enough for Elgin ISD.
