MIDLAND, Texas — Midland ISD is continuing to innovate and work toward finding ways to improve student performance.
The school district has been developing a "Principal Incentive Allotment," or PIA, since August of 2023. In 2024, campus leaders will have the chance to earn that bonus.
The incentive is a stipend that can range from $10,000 to as much as $37,000. The PIA program is designed to reward the successes of highly-effective principals, with the hope that it will bring out the best in MISD.
From Jane Long Elementary to San Jacinto Junior High and all the way up to Midland High, every campus of Midland ISD is involved.
“They are very excited and looking forward to what it takes to earn the 'Principal Incentive Allotment,'” said Jessica Redman, executive director of school leadership for Midland ISD.
Redman said there are two main factors to earn the PIA.
“A lot of what we’re looking for is tied to student success," Redman said. "So, how well students do in regards to state accountability is going to be one factor, and then looking at how well principals do in their role is going to be the other factor.”
Teachers have the direct impact on students, while principals oversee the operation.
“The principals they hire the best talent, they put the systems in place for student success and so it’s really that partnership between having great teachers and having good systems and good instruction going on – which is both the principals and the teachers," Redman said.
The incentive also aims for an impact beyond just raw data.
“We have a labor market that is – it is sometimes difficult to fill positions," Redman said. "And so having something like the 'Principal Incentive Allotment' [and] the 'Teacher Incentive Allotment,' it will really keep our best people there and it will attract people to our district because they can get this incentive for highly successful campuses.”
Although money is an incentive, the school district has one ultimate goal.
“We are looking to improve success in our district, and this is a big factor towards that is having the right people leading our campuses," Redman said. "And so, ultimately the goal is to -- every year -- perform better and better, and have better student outcomes, grow our students and become a premier district.”
Redman mentioned that while the "Principal Incentive Allotment" is funded through federal grants, the initial stages have been funded through a donation by the Permian Strategic Partnership.
PSP's support as well as collaboration with the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin and Empower Schools has helped to make this a reality for Midland ISD.