Salary
Teacher's salaries are determined by training and experience. New teachers will be placed at the appropriate level on the district's approved salary schedule. They will be given full credit for training and experience received in other accredited school districts or institutions, subject to approval by the State Board for Educator Certification. Athens ISD salary schedule is above State base and ranks among one of the highest paying in the East Texas region.
Contracts
Teachers in the district are subject to Probationary and Term Contract Laws as passed by the 74th Texas Legislature. Under this arrangement, teachers receive one year probationary contracts for the first three years of employment. A term contract will then be offered to teachers who have completed three successful years of service to the district. Probationary contracts are voted on each year by the Board of Trustees. Term contracts are renewed annually by the Board upon recommendation of the Superintendent.
Increments
Salary increments are granted to employees based on the salary schedule approved for the school district by the Board of Trustees.
Payroll
All employees receive paychecks monthly for a total of 12 pay periods. Electronic deposit of rayroll checks is available for all employees who are on regular payroll.
State Personal Leave
Employees of the district are granted five state days of personal leave each year with no limit on accumulation.
Local Leave
Employees of the district are granted five days of local sick leave each year with accumulation up to 30 days.
Extended Leave
In situations where all accrued state and local leave has been exhausted, an employee may request up to twenty days of extended sick leave at substitute pay deduction from the Superintendent.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas
All full-time employees of the district are automatically enrolled in the Texas Retirement System (TRS) of Texas. Employees contribute a percentage of their gross annual salaries as members of TRS.
Life Insurance
All district sponsored health plans include $30,000 life insurance for district employees enrolled in a district sponsored health insurance program. Additional coverage is available on an optional basis.
Education Loan Forgiveness
All Athens ISD Campuses are Title 1 Campuses. Employees who have educational loans are eligible to apply for loan forgiveness. You must have been employed as a full-time teacher for five consecutive complete academic years in an elementary or secondary school that has been designated as a "low-income" school by the U.S. Department of Education.
Stipends
Contract employees who perform extracurricular duties may be paid a stipend in addition to their salary according to the district's extra-duty pay schedule.
Science/Math Sign-on Bonus
$2,500 Sign-on bonus for Secondary Math and Science Teachers
College Reimbursement Program
Paid to all employees seeking a Bachelors or Masters Degree in the education field $100 per semester hour ($1,200 maximum per year)
Teacher Attendance Incentive
Based on number of personal absences per school year:
$500 - 0 Absences
$400 - 1 Absence
$300 - 2 Absences
$200 - 3 Absences
Lamar Master Degree Opportunities
Athens ISD has entered into a partnership with Lamar University in Beaumont. Teachers may complete either a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership or a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. This can be accomplished all online in 5 week courses. This wonderful opportunity is availabe for a total fee of $4,950! This includes books and does not require any traveling to Beaumont for classes. In addition the district has set up a payroll deduction plan where the fee of $275 is payroll deducted over a 17 month period. Currently 11 teachers are involved in this cohort program.
Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank
The district also has a Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank in which all employees may participate.
TRS BCBS Active Care Insurance
District paid $225.00 per employee |
