Alief Independent School District The Smart Choice Teacher Incentive Allotment

In this Issue

TIA Designated Teacher Spotlight
Beyond Data Capture Year (DCY)
TIA Handbook
TIA Component Focus: Classroom Instruction

TIA Designated Teacher Spotlight

Introducing the TIA Designated Teacher Spotlight! In each edition of the TIA Tuesdays newsletter, we will shine a light on a TIA designated teacher in Alief ISD. This special section will provide an opportunity for designated teachers to share their unique experiences with TIA.

This month's spotlight is on Steve Covele, a dedicated 5th-grade ELA and Social Studies teacher at Miller Intermediate with an impressive 46-year teaching career, 27 of which have been spent in Alief. He currently holds an Exemplary TIA Designation. Steve deeply appreciates the opportunities Alief provides, such as partner teaching, the availability of resources, district loyalty, and the diverse range of personalities. He firmly believes that his strong work ethic, creativity, and proactive approach each day have greatly contributed to earning a TIA designation. When asked for advice on earning a designation, Steve emphasized the importance of hard work and perseverance, noting that the more time and effort one invests, the more confidence and improved teaching skills they will gain, even if the workload may initially seem overwhelming.

Thank you, Mr. Covele, for your dedication to the students of Alief ISD!

Beyond Data Capture Year

Alief is entering its second designation cycle for data captured during the 2023-24 school year. All data collected for the purposes of TIA (T-TESS Observations, Student Growth Measures, and Student Surveys) will be submitted via application to TEA in October 2024. We expect to receive a final approval notification from TEA in February 2025. If our system is approved for a second time, we will receive a final designation and allotment notification in April 2025, followed by a payout to TIA-designated teachers on their May 31st paycheck.

Teacher Incentive Allotment Handbook

The TIA Handbook has been updated to reflect changes to the 2024-25 data capture year. You will find that a frequently asked question section has been included to address some of the most common questions about the system. Click here to view the 2024-25 TIA Handbook.

TIA Component Focus: Classroom Instruction

2024-25 T-TESS Observation Overview

To determine TIA designations, Alief ISD's TIA system utilizes 3 teacher effectiveness measures:

Classroom Instruction
Student Growth
Student Perception

In the September edition of TIA Tuesdays, we will take a deeper look into the Classroom Instruction component of TIA. Please see below for the 2024-25 T-TESS Observation Overview.

24-25 School Year - Data Submission Year Observation #1 (20 min) TIA Walkthrough #1 Observation #2 (45 min) Observation #3 (20 min) TIA Walkthrough #2 Weight 20% 50% 30% Window Timeline August 26 - October 25 October 15 - March 6 January 8 - April 11 Scheduled? Yes (Date/Time) Yes (Date/Time) Yes (Date/Time) Domains Observed Domain 3: Learning Environment Domain 1: Planning Domain 2: Instruction Domain 3: Learning Environment Domain 2: Instruction Domain 3: Learning Environment Appraiser Primary Appraiser Primary Appraiser Secondary Appraiser Conference? No Conference Required Pre-conference and Post-conference No Conference Required Recording Required? No Yes (Edthena) No

T-TESS Observation Dimensions

There are four domains in the T-TESS instrument:

Planning (Domain 1)
Instruction (Domain 2)
- Dimension 2.1 - Achieving Expectations
- Dimension 2.2 - Content Knowledge
- Dimension 2.3 - Communication
- Dimension 2.4 - Differentiation
- Dimension 2.5 - Monitor and Adjust
Learning Environment (Domain 3)
- Dimension 3.1 - Classroom Environment
- Dimension 3.2 - Managing Student Behavior
- Dimension 3.3 - Classroom Culture
Professional Practices and Responsibilities (Domain 4)

Alief ISD utilizes Domains 2 and 3 to determine a teacher's TIA score. For TIA purposes, TEA only considered Domains 2 and 3.

Classroom Instruction Scoring

To determine a teacher's T-TESS score for TIA, a weighted combination of Observation 1, 2, and 3 is utilized. First, each dimension from Domain 2 and 3 is mapped to a 5-point rating scale as follows: Distinguished=5, Accomplished=4, Proficient=3, Developing=2, Needs Improvement=1. Once each dimension from Domain 2 and 3 is mapped to a 5-point rating, an overall T-TESS score is calculated using the following formulas:

Dimensions in Domain 2

(Window #2 Score 62.5%) + (Window #3 Score 37.5%) = Dimension Averages for Domain 2

Dimensions in Domain 3

(Window #1 Score 20%) + (Window #2 Score 50%) + (Window #3 Score * 30%) = Dimension Averages for Domain 3

The dimension averages for Domains 2 and 3 are then averaged together to arrive at a single overall T-TESS Score.

TIA Contact Information

If you have questions regarding TIA, please email AliefTIAQuestions@aliefisd.net or visit the Alief ISD TIA website linked here.