Your go-to source for important updates, insights, and resources related to our district’s human resources information. Each edition is designed to keep you informed about new policies, upcoming events, professional development opportunities, and other key information that impacts our staff and schools. Whether you’re looking for updates on benefits, tips for enhancing your workplace experience, or information on district-wide initiatives, our newsletter has you covered. Stay engaged and informed with the latest HR news and resources tailored specifically for our district’s needs.
HR NEWS AT A GLANCE!
April 1, 2025
Volume 1: Issue 8
In this Issue...
Welcome Message
Important Dates
25-26 Raise and Bonuses Approved!
Paraprofessionals of the Year
Staff Spotlight: Business Office
Employee Celebration!
Substitute of the Month
AT Success Stories
TIA Support and FAQs
ESL Certification Reminders
Alief Grows Our Own
Tips to Manage Stress!
Employee Referral Program
Employee Verification Process
Employee Support Links
Welcome to April
Welcome to the April Edition of the HR Newsletter, The HeRald!
Dear Alief ISD Team,
As we move into the vibrant month of April, we want to take a moment to acknowledge all the incredible work being done by our dedicated staff. April is a time of renewal and growth, and we are proud to see so many of you continuing to inspire and support our students, families, and each other.
In this month’s edition of The Herald, we’re excited to share important updates, upcoming events, and recognition for those who go above and beyond in our district. Whether you’re in the classroom, the front office, or supporting our students behind the scenes, your efforts make a difference. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for all.
As we prepare for the end of the school year, let’s stay focused on finishing strong and supporting one another. Your commitment is what makes Alief ISD such a special place to work, and we are grateful for each of you.
Thank you for everything you do to help our students thrive. Let’s continue to grow, learn, and lead as we head into the final stretch of the school year.
The Alief ISD Board of Trustees approved a three percent increase for all eligible employees, calculated as 3% of each employee’s pay grade midpoint. The raise will be implemented for the 2025-26 school year, beginning with each qualified employee’s first paycheck of the new school year/contract year.
Maintaining competitive salary schedules and benefits packages in the Houston area is extremely important. This raise brings our teacher pay close to the top of the Houston market, where we have historically led our peers in net take home pay (salary less benefits).
Along with a 3% raise for all eligible employees, our Trustees approved a recruitment incentive and a retention incentive for attracting and retaining certified teachers.
The recruitment incentive would be paid ½ in September 2025 and ½ in September 2026. The incentives are as follows:
Recruitment Incentive Payment to New Certified Teachers recommended for hire by July 17, 2025
•Certified Teachers hired for full-time bilingual education positions - $5,000
•Certified Teachers hired for full-time special education self-contained positions - $5,000
•Certified Teachers hired for other full-time positions (P1Teacher and P1Other) - $4,000
•Certified Teachers who have been TIA Designated hired for full-time teaching positions (P1Teacher and P1Other) – $8,000
The retention incentive would all be paid in September 2025. The incentive is as follows:
•Retention Incentive Payment to Existing and Returning Certified Teachers
•Returning Certified Teachers - $3,000
Alief ISD is committed to attracting highly qualified employees and retaining our dedicated staff. We have created an FAQ about the raise and incentives, which can be found HERE
The annual Paraprofessional of the Year Recognition and Celebration will took place on Wednesday, March 26th at the Center for Talent Development. Voted paraprofessionals from all campuses came together to be recognized for their hard work and contributions on their respective campuses.
This April, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on our dedicated Business Office team. We are proud to recognize six incredible team members who have each served in AISD for over 25 years! Their hard work, commitment, and unwavering support have been instrumental in the success of our district. We deeply appreciate all they’ve done and continue to do for AISD. Here's to their many years of service and to the positive impact they've made on our community!
They were asked to answer the following questions:
How long have you been in Alief ISD?
What do you love most about Alief ISD?
What is your most memorable moment for any role you have ever had in Alief?
(Pictured below are the Business Office Spotlights for the month!)
Judith Long
40 plus years in Alief ISD
People are always willing to help solve a problem or answer a question, that may have been asked before, on how to do a procedure.
A funny memorable happening was when a school returned their annual fixed assets inventory in an interdepartmental envelope and included a toy rubber snake. I don’t know if it was an opinion of inventories or an accident, but I still have the snake. An event that impacted many jobs was when AISD implemented its own in-house computer system allowing information to be entered on site and reports to generated here, instead of filling in data forms to be keypunched and then sent to Region IV for processing reports.
Samantha Hoyt
32 years in Alief ISD
I started working in Alief in January of 1994, so I have been with Alief for 32 years. I love the many opportunities that Alief has provided to me. I have enjoyed experiencing all of the different positions that I have held in Alief. I have had many memorable moments while working in Alief. The moment that I think is most memorable is when I learned they would be naming a school after Helen Mata! Helen Mata hired me 32 years ago and gave me my first opportunity with Alief!
Sonia Lumbreras
32 years in Alief ISD
I started working in Alief , August 1993, so about 32 years. (took a year off when my son was born) I love interacting with the students, parents and staff. Memorable moments are feeling satisfied to help others through the day, doing whatever it took.
Becky Schuessler
31 years in Alief ISD
I began working for Alief in July of 1994 it will soon be 31 years ago. Working for the district allowed me to learn new skills and form some cherished friendships. As a single parent I also appreciated that I could be available to my kids while they attended school in Alief. I would have to say that my most memorable moments were working in Special Ed with the kids at Heflin when I first started with the district.
Julee Patterson
28 years in Alief ISD
I started working in Alief in July of 1997, so this July would be 28 years. I love the relationships that I’ve made. When you’ve worked somewhere this long, your coworkers are friends. I have friendships that will last long after I’m no longer working here. I’ve probably forgotten many of them by now, but in recent history, my most memorable moment or moments were during COVID. The way the accounting team had to pivot and make sure employees and vendors were paid, that we still had an audit, figured out all of the new issues/concerns that COVID created, etc was REMARKABLE! I will forever be proud of our team for how we stepped up during that season.
Rhonda Grate- Heath
27 years in Alief ISD
I started working in Alief ISD on 8/28/1998. What I love most about Alief is the many wonderful people I have been blessed to work with over the years... from parents, volunteers, and community members to students, employees, and administrators. My most memorable moment in Alief was the unexpected outpouring of love and support I received when many of my coworkers came to my husband’s funeral in the middle of a workday, knowing the many sacrifices and orchestration it took to make it happen…and they did it for me. In my experience, Alief ISD has always stressed the importance of family, both to the community and its employees, and this was one occasion where it was so beautifully demonstrated.
Denise Martin
27 years in Alief ISD
I’ve met some really special friends thatI will never forget. My most memorable moment in Alief is meeting my husband of 40 years in the hallway of Hastings High School.
Since 2020, LECU has been an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to its online international University. This has kept Leaders Esteem Christian University at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.
The university offers a variety of programs to equip and empower faith-based leaders to change the world through the power of love. LECU is an institute of higher education where students discover and grow in their God-given gifts and callings and their curriculum is used and accepted internationally.
Renferd Joseph was been nominated and selected to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Leaders Esteem Christian University. After a thorough review of their resume, accolades, and accomplishments, the committee recognized the profound impact [Recipient's Name] has made on the lives of thousands of students and their families throughout their career. This honor comes from the same committee that previously nominated Joseph for the prestigious President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Renferd will be receiving this esteemed honor and joining the ranks of previous awardees who have made significant contributions to their fields, including well-known figures such as the late Sheila Jackson Lee, Tyrese Gibson, Ricky Smiley, Raheem DeVaughn, D-Nice, After 7, and Troop—legends in the R&B genre. Joseph holds deep respect for those who have earned their doctorate degrees through rigorous academic study, and he is are deeply honored to be recognized for his lifelong contributions to the field of Fine Arts.
The category in which he has been selected is Arts & Entertainment, and he is truly humbled to now stand among A-list celebrities who have also received this recognition.
Congratulations to Ms. Tishanna Bailey, our Substitute of the Month for March!
Your dedication, flexibility, commitment, and love for our students and staff make a tremendous impact every day. Thank you for all that you do! - The Sub Office
Nomination Submission :
Maintains regular routine and sets clear expectations for procedures and behavior She's very professional with her roles and responsibilities
She is great with the students. Very respectful. I admire her patients and does a lot for our school and students.
April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize health-related issues. Stress is unavoidable. Now more than ever, it's important to understand stress and how we can manage it.
6 Tips to Manage Stress and Build Resilience
It's critical to recognize what stress and anxiety look like. Here are several tips to help recognize stressors that may be affecting your health, and ways to help you build resilience:
Signs
*Recognize and counter signs of stress. Your body sends signals that say "I'm stressed out!" These can include difficulty concentrating, headaches, cold hands, tight muscles, a nervous stomach, clenched teeth, feeling on edge, fidgety, irritable or withdrawn. Knowing how your body communicates can help you deal with stressful moments.
Time
*Take time for yourself. Make taking care of yourself a daily routine. It's not selfish or self-indulgent — and it might require saying "no" to requests or prioritizing yourself along with your responsibilities. Also, take time to notice the "good minutes" in each day or to do something that you enjoy,(i.e. reading, music etc.), which can be a way to shift your attention /focus to the positive rather than negative.
New Routines
*Try new routines. From scheduling bath and bedtimes to blocking off time to plan and prioritize tasks, additional structure can provide a daily framework that allows you to attune to your body's signals. Then, you can take steps to potentially manage stress earlier than you once did.
Stay Connected
*Stay connected and make new friends. Stay in touch with family, friends and groups in your life — technology makes this easier than ever. Having or being a person to talk with can be reassuring and calming. Using video features can enhance the connection in telecommunication or online communications for some people.
Change your Lens
*See problems through a different lens. Experts call changing the way we think about and respond to stress "reframing." View sitting in traffic or around the house as an opportunity to enjoy music, podcasts or pleasant views. Reduce anger in response to rude or aggressive behavior by imagining what might be happening in that person's life. Keeping situations in perspective is an important way to boost stress resilience. .
Seek Help if Needed
*Seek help with problems. Many people experience the same day-to-day strains related to caregiving, relationships, health, work and money. Look to friends and family, or other trusted individuals or resources for tips and information. Be sure to talk to a professional if stress is affecting your well-being, or you feel you can't manage the stress you're experiencing
To streamline the process for handling employment verification inquiries, please follow the steps listed below. For detailed instructions, you can visit the Reference Document linked at the top of the image or refer to the information available on our district website Human Resources department page. All inquiries are processed through www.experianverify.com.
