Plano South | August 2023

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Pay day The Plano ISD board of trustees approved its compensation plan for the 2023-24 school year on May 16. +3% pay increase for all district employees

Dierent paths

participants 93

have enrolled in the QuEST program’s rst cohort. That includes 23 recent graduates.

The Quality Education for Successful Teaching program has four dierent paths to help participants work toward becoming a teacher.

Districts of innovation support path

Future teacher path

Certication seeking path

Foundation track path

Starting pay for campus support sta $15 per hour Increased stipends for special education teachers, bilingual teachers, school nurses and behavioral instructional specialists $2,000 to $5,000 starting salary for teachers with a master's degree and no experience from $60,250 to $62,000 Increased district contributions for employee health insurance $315 to $330 monthly

PISD support sta or substitutes who need to complete a degree and earn teacher certication

PISD high school seniors who desire a career in education

PISD employees hired under a District of Innovation waiver who need support in teaching methods and instruction

PISD support sta who have a degree and need to become teacher certi ed

PISD employment as support sta (classroom assistant, associate teacher) while working toward a degree and certication

Skill strengthening professional development for these full-time sta members

Texas certication and 15 hours toward master’s degree

Bachelor of Science and Texas certication in 1-2.5 years.

SOURCES: CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION, PLANO ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

may not have had a path to becoming teachers before. “As we were looking for more cre- ative ways to get great teachers in our classroom, we looked internally,” Eppler said. “These are people that are already investing in our kids, and now we’re helping them become teachers. … It’s a great opportunity for people that have grown up in Plano and want to stay in Plano.” All of the curriculum for the program is curated by PISD, and existing sta will receive nancial support while graduating high school seniors in the program will have their degrees paid for. Participants also have opportuni- ties to serve as classroom assistants and associate teachers through the process.

Eppler added the program can be molded to best meet the needs of participants. “We want to take that curriculum and adapt it,” she said. “Maybe they’ve got great experience coming into a [career and technical education] class, but they don’t have teaching experience. We can adapt it to help them become amazing teachers, because they obvi- ously already know their content.” Eppler added district ocials are hoping the QuEST program will also be useful in lling open support sta positions. “It’s a great recruitment tool, because if you come to Plano ISD and work here for a year, you qualify to apply for the QuEST program,” Eppler said. “That’s how we’re hoping to backll some of

those [support sta] positions.” Will Holleman, senior director of government relations at Raise Your Hand Texas—a public education advo- cacy organization—said districts across the state are looking at similar pro- grams to help ll teaching vacancies. “These are people that are already working in your districts; they already have an anity for the students and want to teach,” he said. “Or you’ve already identied some students that have told you, ‘I want to get into teach- ing, and also, I want to get out of it debt free.’ So why not train up from within? It’s a really logical next step.” The big picture Many districts in the state are turn- ing to creative methods of recruitment

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has almost 100 participants. “It’s just a roomful of people that are excited about starting this pathway to becoming a teacher,” Eppler said. “That’s what we want in our classroom with our kids—people that are excited Through partnerships with Indiana Wesleyan and Teachworthy—an alter- native teacher certication program— the QuEST program attempts to take away some of the nancial burden that comes with becoming a teacher, Eppler said. The program specically looks to serve existing sta and students who to be there.” Zooming in

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(for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life.

(for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors. to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors.

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors. Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play base- ball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors.

Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with. Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with.

For more information or to select your own exchange student please call:

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Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA. Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA. www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.

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