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Mesquite ISD

Excellence Happens Here

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  1. Departments
  2. Professional Learning
  3. ETIP

ETIP

ETIP - Excellence in Teaching Incentive Program

We support career growth and aspiration in our educators, but we also believe that talented educators who feel their talents are best served in the classroom, should be able to stay in the classroom while reaching their professional goals.

We support career growth and aspiration in our educators, but we also believe that talented educators who feel their talents are best served in the classroom, should be able to stay in the classroom while reaching their professional goals.

IN THE NEWS: ETIP Spotlight from TASB

    • Build teacher capacity
    • Recruit and retain teachers in MISD
    • Provide professional advancement opportunities for teachers who remain in the classroom
    • Build teachers’ financial future 

  • Note: ETIP inclusion for new participants is paused for the 2025-26 school year

    Teachers eligible to participate are the teacher of record as defined by:

    • Assign report card grades for the current school year in one or more subject areas
    • Teach 50% or more of each day, and
    • Design and implement instruction

    Teachers with two or more years of teaching experience, at least one of these in MISD, may begin the ETIP coursework. This will enable experienced teachers new to our district to participate after only one year in MISD.

    • Differentiation - Fall
    • Formative Assessment – Spring
    • Practicum 1 -Spring
    • Teaching Students of Poverty - Fall
    • Preparing Students for a Global Society - Spring
    • Practicum 2- Spring

Three Levels of ETIP

  • Complete required coursework over a 2 year period
  • Document implementation and professional growth both during the 2 years of     coursework and each year thereafter
  • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimension 4.2, goal setting, and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the     student growth dimension

Upon completion of the coursework, teachers will receive $5,000/year* as long as they continue to demonstrate and document growth from throughout the school year; and receive acceptable teacher evaluations.

Note: The $1,500 master’s stipend is included in this $5,000

Teachers who already have a master’s degree in an eligible field, and complete the level one coursework, will be eligible for level two after meeting all other criteria.

  • Maintain classroom scholar eligibility for 2 years after completion of courses
  • Complete a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction or the content area*. 
  • Document implementation and professional growth both during the 2 years of  coursework and each year thereafter as documented on the ETIP rubric
  • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimensions 4.2 (goal setting,) and 4.4 (school community involvement,) and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the student growth dimension
  • Add value to the campus each year

NOTE: A master’s degree in any educational field will be accepted for level two if conferred by May 2018. Any master’s conferred after this date should be in Curriculum and Instruction or the content area to be eligible for level two.

Upon completing Level Two requirements, teachers will receive an additional $2,000 each year, as long as they continue to meet the above requirements.

  • Maintain level 2 eligibility for 2 years after completion
  • Complete a doctoral degree in any educational field or earn National Board Teacher Certification 
  • Document implementation and professional growth as documented on the ETIP rubric each year
  • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimensions 4.2 (goal setting,) and 4.4 (school community involvement,) and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the student growth dimension
  • Add value to the campus each year
  • Add value to the district each year

Upon completing Level Three requirements, teachers will receive an additional $5,000 each year, as long as they continue to meet the above requirements.

    • Complete required coursework over a 2 year period
    • Document implementation and professional growth both during the 2 years of     coursework and each year thereafter
    • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimension 4.2, goal setting, and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the     student growth dimension

    Upon completion of the coursework, teachers will receive $5,000/year* as long as they continue to demonstrate and document growth from throughout the school year; and receive acceptable teacher evaluations.

    Note: The $1,500 master’s stipend is included in this $5,000

  • Teachers who already have a master’s degree in an eligible field, and complete the level one coursework, will be eligible for level two after meeting all other criteria.

    • Maintain classroom scholar eligibility for 2 years after completion of courses
    • Complete a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction or the content area*. 
    • Document implementation and professional growth both during the 2 years of  coursework and each year thereafter as documented on the ETIP rubric
    • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimensions 4.2 (goal setting,) and 4.4 (school community involvement,) and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the student growth dimension
    • Add value to the campus each year

    NOTE: A master’s degree in any educational field will be accepted for level two if conferred by May 2018. Any master’s conferred after this date should be in Curriculum and Instruction or the content area to be eligible for level two.

    Upon completing Level Two requirements, teachers will receive an additional $2,000 each year, as long as they continue to meet the above requirements.

    • Maintain level 2 eligibility for 2 years after completion
    • Complete a doctoral degree in any educational field or earn National Board Teacher Certification 
    • Document implementation and professional growth as documented on the ETIP rubric each year
    • Maintain proficient or above rating on T-TESS dimensions 4.2 (goal setting,) and 4.4 (school community involvement,) and a developing or above rating on all remaining dimensions of T-TESS, including the student growth dimension
    • Add value to the campus each year
    • Add value to the district each year

    Upon completing Level Three requirements, teachers will receive an additional $5,000 each year, as long as they continue to meet the above requirements.

Adding Value at Each Level

  • This level focuses on adding capacity to the district. The examples below are not all inclusive.

    • Presents/Facilitates on-going professional learning at the district level
    • Writes curriculum 
    • Mentor teachers and provide feedback at other campuses
    • Coaches and provides feedback to 1 or more teachers from another campus throughout the school year )
    • Teaches at least one ETIP course
    • Other ideas that add capacity at the district level and are approved through the professional learning office 

  • This level focuses on building teacher capacity. ETIP teachers may do one of the following to fulfill the Campus Scholar requirement. The examples below are not all inclusive.

    • Provides intensive mentoring to other teachers
    • Assists in planning, presenting, and implementing professional learning on an on-going basis
    • Provides on-going parent education that impacts the campus
    • Leads high-impact student organizations 
    • Other ideas that build teacher capacity, impact the campus, and are approved through the Professional Learning Office

 

If you have any questions, please see the ETIP FAQs below or contact the Professional Learning Department at 972-882-7737.

ETIP Program FAQs

  • Special education teachers that are the teacher of record are eligible to participate in the ETIP program. These teachers provide grades for the report card in one or more subjects, teach at least 50% of the time, and design and implement instruction. In most cases, teachers of self-contained classes and those teaching MTI for any number of students would qualify for this program, as they are the teacher of record for one or more subjects and provide report card grades.

  • No. These teachers are not eligible.

  • No. You must only have two years of teaching experience and be working one year in Mesquite ISD to apply for the program.

  • Yes. A master’s in any field will be honored for Level Two of the program, as long as that master’s was completed by May 2018. To qualify for level two, a master’s conferred after May 2018 must be in Curriculum and Instruction or the content area.

  • No. While in Level One, the total stipend will be $5000. Once the Level One criteria have been met for two years, the master’s degree will allow teachers to immediately be eligible for Level Two.

  • We will honor a master’s in any field that has already been completed or will be completed by May 2018. A participant will still have to complete the 18 hours of coursework designed for Mesquite ISD to earn the stipend at Level One, but the master’s requirement for Level Two will already be completed.

  • No. A teacher must complete the requirements of Level One in order to earn the stipend. However, the Masters will count for the educational requirement in Level Two.

  • Yes. Those teachers not participating in the ETIP program will continue to receive the $1500 per year for a master’s degree.

  • Yes. Everyone entering the program will be required to complete the 6 courses required as the educational component of Level One. Your master’s and doctorate degrees will meet the educational requirements for Levels Two and Three, but there are additional requirements for these levels that must be met, including adding value to the campus and distr

  • Yes. The list of adding value is not all inclusive. There will be room for innovative ideas and/or degrees or certifications that are not yet available to count for these areas. The district committee would evaluate other ideas on an individual basis.

  • No. For example, you could earn Level One, wait a few years, and then earn Level Two. This allows for each individual to move through the levels at a pace that best suits his life circumstances.

  • Yes, the district will pay for the level one coursework. Those wishing to apply the coursework to a Master’s Degree in C & I from Texas A&M Commerce will pay tuition to the university for the practicum courses. More information will be provided for those who are interested.

  • The ETIP courses are taught by current MISD classroom teachers that have successfully completed the coursework and are serving as classroom, campus, or district scholars.

  •  

    While you will be asked to purchase a professional book for each of the courses, you will not be charged any tuition or fees for the courses at Level One. Those seeking a master’s degree through TAMU-C will pay tuition for the practicum courses.

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