R9 TIA News & Notes - December 2024

Dear TIA Leads,

The TEA is hosting its inaugural annual TIA Conference this June and is seeking presenters! The 2025 TIA Conference will focus on expanding districts' local designation systems to include more teachers eligible for TIA designations, deepening their understanding of TIA implementation, and exploring effective TIA strategies. The conference will also provide opportunities to connect with other TEA initiatives and foster collaboration among districts across Texas. Attendees will benefit from live sessions offering best practices for implementing local designation systems, with actionable steps to help districts enhance their systems and achieve teacher retention goals.

TIA Thrive in 2025 Conference

Who: Application Accepted, Provisionally Approved, or Fully Approved Districts

Where: San Antonio, TX

When: June 9th-11th, 2025

Registration: between $300 and $400 per person

If you present at the conference, your registration fee will be waived! The proposal submission deadline is Friday, December 13. For more details, please review the Conference Proposal Guide and contact tiaconinfo@gmail.com for additional information.

Sincerely,

The Region 9 TIA Team

Region 9 will be hosting an R9 TIA Office Hours on the second Tuesday of every month from 9am-10am. The next one will be on December 10th. This Office Hours will be a Zoom only for Region 9 districts. We’ll start each Office Hours with any updates you need to know, and then give you time to ask our TIA Team any specific questions that you have about your designation system, your data for submission or anything else related to TIA.

Once you register, open the zoom registration email and add it to your calendar. This will add all of the dates for the year!

💻TEA offers high quality zoom trainings throughout the school year. There are often testimonials from district personnel, and you can get your questions answered straight from the source! Click the image below to access the link.

The Vendor zoom session held in October was well-received by attendees who were hoping to learn about options for Student Growth Measures for their TIA plans. If you were unable to make it but are interested in learning more about the vendors listed below, please click here or click the image below to access the resources and recordings linked.

TEA has updated their Third-Party Assessments page with new information provided by some of their vendors. If you use any of these assessments, please review the list for any new information.

On January 16, 2025, Region 9 Education Service Center, along with Vernon College, Midwestern State University, Texas Retired Teachers Association, and Workforce Solution North Texas, will host SparkED, a future educators conference designed for 11th and 12th-grade students from across our region. The event aims to inspire and equip the next generation of teachers through engaging keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and scholarship opportunities.

The conference will feature keynote speaker Aric Bostick, a nationally recognized motivational speaker, along with the following breakout sessions:

• EngagEd for 11th graders,

• EmpowerEd for 12th graders,

• EncouragEd for the teachers accompanying the students.

At the end of the conference, scholarships will be awarded to selected students as they embark on their journey toward becoming educators.

We are eager to share how SparkED will help impact future teachers in Region 9. Please reach out to kelly.morris@esc9.net to get your Juniors and Seniors registered!

Do your teachers have questions? We've got answers! Teachers can join us to learn the basics of TIA at our sessions listed on the flyer below. This informational session is for any teacher who wants to learn more about TIA, even in districts with established Local Designation Systems. Click the image to access the zoom links. You can also email the PDF directly to your teachers by clicking the download link below! Email chelsea.howells@esc9.net with any questions.

Look down in the appropriate category below to keep track of PD opportunities, action items, and deadlines. Each section is a one stop shop for all timely information for your category. We hope that this newsletter keeps you up to date with everything that you need to know in the world of TIA!

It is an important time to be engaging with your stakeholders. Be sure to check-in with your teachers and other stakeholders to ensure open communication and support. TEA has created some stakeholder engagement resources beyond the ones you received at our October zoom.

The next mandatory zoom session will cover creating a Spending Plan and Data Validation. Both of these are vital pieces in completing your TIA application!

Date: December 3, 2024

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Zoom

Who should attend: TIA Lead (required); Business Manager AM only

Click the button below to register.

At this point in the year, districts in their first data capture cycle should ensure that student growth measures are progressing as planned. Depending on the chosen method, this may involve:

• Pre-Test/Post-Test: Pre-tests should be completed by now. Continue to support teachers in developing Response to Intervention (RTI) strategies for areas where students are struggling, with the goal of improving performance on the post-test.
• Student Learning Objectives (SLO): Students should now be placed on an initial skill profile, and teachers should be gathering the necessary evidence for end-of-year scoring. Campus leaders should actively monitor the SLO process, meeting regularly with teachers to ensure that all required data is being collected.
• Portfolios: Each student should have a Beginning of Year score on the rubric. Campus leaders are encouraged to routinely check in with portfolio teachers to ensure that artifact collection is progressing smoothly.

By confirming that all student growth measures are being implemented as planned, districts can support effective learning outcomes and ensure that educators receive recognition for their impactful work.

Designation Fees

Districts will receive email notification that their file has been accepted following the System Alignment Review. The email will include information regarding fee amounts due ($500 per proposed designee) and payment instructions in the SCOMS online pay system (through ACH or credit card). Do not send a mailed check or remit payment outside the system. See the SCOMS Fee Payment Instructions for more information. Do not send payment until you have received this email.

The next zoom session will cover creating a Spending Plan and Data Validation. Please consider joining us if you'd like a refresher or have new staff who need better understanding of these two topics!

Date: December 3, 2024

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Zoom

Who should attend: TIA Lead (required); Business Manager AM only

Click the button below to register.

Data Capture Year Landing Page

Data Submission and Validation Landing Page

At this point in the year, districts in their first data capture cycle should ensure that student growth measures are progressing as planned. Depending on the chosen method, this may involve:

• Pre-Test/Post-Test: Pre-tests should be completed by now. Continue to support teachers in developing Response to Intervention (RTI) strategies for areas where students are struggling, with the goal of improving performance on the post-test.
• Student Learning Objectives (SLO): Students should now be placed on an initial skill profile, and teachers should be gathering the necessary evidence for end-of-year scoring. Campus leaders should actively monitor the SLO process, meeting regularly with teachers to ensure that all required data is being collected.
• Portfolios: Each student should have a Beginning of Year score on the rubric. Campus leaders are encouraged to routinely check in with portfolio teachers to ensure that artifact collection is progressing smoothly.

By confirming that all student growth measures are being implemented as planned, districts can support effective learning outcomes and ensure that educators receive recognition for their impactful work.

Districts will receive email notification that their file has been accepted following the System Alignment Review. The email will include information regarding fee amounts due ($500 per proposed designee) and payment instructions in the SCOMS online pay system (through ACH or credit card). Do not send a mailed check or remit payment outside the system. See the SCOMS Fee Payment Instructions for more information. Do not send payment until you have received this email.

The next zoom session will cover creating a Spending Plan and Data Validation. Please consider joining us if you'd like a refresher or have new staff who need better understanding of these two topics!

Date: December 3, 2024

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Zoom

Who should attend: TIA Lead (required); Business Manager AM only

Click the button below to register.

Data Capture Year Landing Page

Data Submission and Validation Landing Page

Awarding Designations Landing Page

Click any image below to access the resource!

Check them out below:

2024-2025

November 2024 October 2024 September 2024