On May 15, 2025, Yorktown secondary teacher and coach Val Acree appeared at the state capitol in Austin before the Senate K-16 Education Committee to provide testimony on the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) perspective in regards to House Bill 2 funding. Acree, a policy fellow with Teach Plus Texas, was selected by Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton to provide invited testimonyontherole TIA plays in rural schools.
According to Natalie Brown, Texas Policy Manager at Teach Plus Texas, “Acree was selected for his exceptional leadership in education, reputation for engaging classroom practices, mentorship of his peers, and dedication to student success. His testimony reflects not only his expertise, but the vital role TIA plays in enabling rural schools to recruit and retain quality teachers. Val Acree’s testimony will hopefully provide meaningful change from the classroom to the Capitol.”
TIA was established with the goal of providing outstanding teachers an accessible pathway to a more financially secure future. Unlike previous education programs, the Teacher Incentive Allotment is not a grant. Through approved local designation systems, districts can identify and designate outstanding teachers based on student growth and classroom observation. Employing designated teachers generates extra funding for districts to reward top performers.
