VIDEO: Teachers excited for Distinguished Teacher Review process

Dallas ISD’s new teacher evaluation system, known as the Teacher Excellence Initiative, is in its first year of implementation. Under TEI, highly effective teachers can make up to 90 thousand dollars a year. In order to do so, teachers must meet certain criteria and undergo a Distinguished Teacher Review- a review of the quality of instruction, leadership, lifelong learning and contributions to the profession.

Veteran teacher Marquie Williams has taught eighth grade science at T J. Rusk Middle school for 10 years. She says this process of identifying and strategically compensating effective teachers has never been done before, but it’s been a long time coming.

The review process has already begun with more than 1400 eligible teacher candidates invited to complete the DTR application. Teachers have until Jan. 22 to complete it.

Once submitted, the application is then reviewed and scored by a central review team, and the teachers are observed in their classrooms.

With nearly 161,000 students enrolled in Dallas ISD, raising student achievement means developing and supporting highly effective teachers. And for Ms. Williams, it means compensating them for their effectiveness as well.