DeSoto ISD created hiring incentives to ensure the district’s competitive compensation has positioned the school system to attract the best educational talent to serve its students.
With every new and returning teacher set to receive what the district is calling a “Difference-Maker Bonus” of $3,000, the district’s Chief of Human Resources Mia Stroy said the incentives are designed to reward our current teachers for their service and commitment during the COVID-19 global health pandemic and retain them for the upcoming school year, but that the stipends were also designed to support her team’s recruiting efforts to bring new and highly-qualified staff into the district.
While the district has outlined stipends for educators who teach core content subjects, advanced degrees and bilingual educators, there are three key positions the district is focused on during this current hiring season.
“School systems across the world will see declines in student achievement data,” said DeSoto ISD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mya Asberry. “That’s why we are so laser-focused on ensuring we are doing everything we can to identify the best educators possible. We want our scholars in DeSoto ISD to soar and, to do that, we need talent that knows how to fly.”
Asberry said in addition to sheer talent, the district has been intentional in designing additional layers of support to more deeply enhance curriculum and instruction.
Three key positions that the district is seeking experienced and successful educators for include the Master Teacher role, the Instructional Coach and the Interventionist.
“These roles are essential to our ability to support classroom instruction and teachers’ success,” said Asberry. “Each of these roles are designed to create a network of support, development and coaching around our staff. We want our teachers to be successful and our students to be successful.”
The Master Teacher is an educator who has:
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A proven record of academic success and student growth
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Effective teaching practices and can model and demonstrate effective teaching
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The ability to unpack the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and standards
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Recent data supporting a track record of success
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A results-driven work ethic
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Deep knowledge of Curriculum & Instruction
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High-quality lesson planning and implementation experience
In DeSoto ISD, a master teacher can earn an additional $20,000 on top of teacher base pay by offering the following incentives:
“We want master teacher candidates who are passionate about growing and coaching other teachers and who desire the best for their colleagues,” said Asberry.
In addition to the master teacher position, DeSoto ISD is also hiring for classroom interventionists and instructional coaches.
“The workplace culture we are designing is a network of support, of collaboration and co-creation and growth,” said Asberry. “By adding these instructional support roles, we put our teachers in position to better address the needs of the whole child, to move the needle academically and work more closely with parents and administrators.”
Instructional Coaches will support teachers by providing coaching, data analysis, and diagnosing students’ instructional needs. Instructional coaches will also provide and design professional learning for teachers and lead professional learning communities and Collaborative Team Meetings.
Whereas Master Teachers and Instructional Coaches focus on teacher support, coaching and development; district interventionists will focus on closing students’ academic gaps by creating individualized intervention plans; supporting multi-tiered systems of support on district campuses; and managing, reviewing and making decisions about student data to inform interventions.
“All three of these roles are so integral to our ability to ensure our students’ needs are met,” said Asberry. “We are gearing up for an unprecedented year of academic achievement and we are actively working to ensure we have the right people in place to support the work ahead to achieve that.”
Desoto ISD encourages highly-qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible.
The district will begin reviewing applications and scheduling interviews the week of July 12.
Candidates will need to apply no later than Saturday,July 10, 2021, in order to receive an invitation to interview on the spot from 1-5p on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at DeSoto Alternative Education Campus located next to the administration building located at 200 E. Belt Line Road in DeSoto.
To apply or for more information, visit www.DeSotoISD.org/Employment.