CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Jim Hogg County Independent School District is spending a little over $218,000 to give its full- and part-time employees a retention incentive.
The district is the largest employer in the county and has some of the best paid employees. However, there are still a lot of choices out there for teachers.
Jim Hogg County ISD Superintendent Susana Garza said that the district has some 169 full-time employees. Each one receiving $1,250 in retention incentive dollars.
"We want to continue to retain that talent because there are schools districts that are close enough where people may want to go. And we might not be the highest paying one but we want them to know that we value them," she said.
Priscilla Vela has taught second grade for 5 years and said that the district makes sure that all her needs are met.
"I have an awesome principal that she does amazing things for us our superintendent. Anything that we need they are always just there an email away a phone call away. So it just makes me feel at home. It brings more of a home feeling here just being in a small town," she said.
Yvonne Lopez is in the middle of her 26th year of teaching. She said that one of the reasons she has stayed in the area is because of her dedication to her job and the community.
"I just believe in our small community. It's like a big family it's just like a big family we help each other out here," she said.
Hebbronville school board member Elias Morales said the retention incentive may help attract educators to the district.
"It's actually very hard. It being a small community small town you really have to come from that type of background and if you're not the interest you need to peak that interest," he said.
By the way, the education agency has given the district an academic rating of an A as it also did that for its financial integrity. Two more reasons for educators to want to come here and teach.
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