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KUTo avoid state sanctions, @AustinISD plans to hire what it’s calling “transformative teachers” to work at three middle schools that received consecutive failing grades under Texas’ school rating system.
The district is not only trying to recruit educators with a track record of improving student outcomes to work at Dobie, Webb and Burnet middle schools. It’s also asking teachers currently working at those campuses to reapply for their jobs.
Teachers in core subjects, such as English and math, stand to receive at least a $15,000 stipend on top of their salary.
Brandi Hosack, the district’s chief of talent strategy, said she thinks a lot of educators who don’t teach core subjects will return.
“I expect many of them to come back — our fine arts teachers, our [career and technical education teachers],” she said.
Austin ISD is required to develop turnaround plans for the schools after they each received two consecutive failing grades from the Texas Education Agency. The agency grades middle schools based on how students perform on STAAR, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.
If a campus gets an “F” for five years in a row, the education commissioner can shut down the school or appoint a board of managers to replace the school board as he did in Houston.
Austin ISD administrators predict Dobie, Webb and Burnet will each earn a third “F” when the 2024 accountability ratings, which have been tied up in court, are released. They expect all three schools to get a fourth “F” when the 2025 ratings are released in August.
Sandra Flores, who teaches English at Webb, called the reapplication plan a “slap in the face” to teachers who have worked in the district for years. She also said the term “transformative teachers” is concerning.
“Who are they transforming? Are they trying to transform our students? Because our students are perfect. They have achieved so many successes,” said Flores, who was named a 2025 Campus Teacher of the Year. “It is such a shame that they’re not acknowledging any of the accomplishments that they’ve met.”
Tap the link in our bio to read more from Becky Fogel.
Video of walkouts at Webb and Burnet: Becky Fogel
@kut_austin
