Twenty-seven Alba-Golden teachers will receive just over $207,000 in teacher incentive allotments (TIA) for the school year 2024-25, it was disclosed at the Alba-Golden School Board meeting May 12.  

The allotments are the first pay-outs from the new state program and will be paid out in lump sums in August. The payments will be repeated for each of the following four years. 

Superintendent Shelby Davidson commented, “As a district we are celebrating those teachers who have earned the allotments, just as we support those who will be pursuing award of the allotments in the future.”

Teachers qualify for TIAs based on evaluations of their demonstrated teaching skills and results of Measures of Academic Progress tests given to their students. 

The board also recognized annual selection of teacher of the year, employee of the year and substitute of the year awardees. For the elementary school those were Amanda Wright, Kayla Taylor and Nancy Johnson, respectively. At the secondary school, Mandy Whitecotton, Nick Hallman and Amanda Burrell earned the distinctions.

Among discussion of the many events with which the school year will be culminating, the district reluctantly accepted notification of the following retirees: Shana Burge, Terri Chaffin, Jimmy Oxford, Laura Reid, and Cindy Soape. The district will host a reception honoring the retirees on Tuesday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. in the cafetorium. 

The board of trustees was newly constituted. Matt Haisten remained president and was newly sworn-in along with board member Dwayne Ellis. Kristopher Quintana assumed duties as vice president and Mike Ragsdale continued as secretary.

Resident Brandi Varner was recognized to speak during the public forum. She advised the board of a pending piece of legislation, Senate Bill 13, which will address library holdings. Varner related that she felt obligated to bring this topic to the board after her daughter found a book in the library with inappropriate language. The book was immediately withdrawn from the library.  

In business before the board, the annual Memorandum of Understanding with Tyler Junior College (TJC) was unanimously approved. Graduation was announced as scheduled for Thursday, May 29 at 6:30 pm at TJC’s Wagstaff Gymnasium. 

Additional staff changes included the extension of Toni Wiley, the resignation of Courtney Kennington and the hiring of Gary Parish. 

Melanie Bohannan earned student of the month in elementary school. Jose Villeda and Abigail Lavy were recognized as secondary school students of the month. John Dusek and Misty Brock earned the monthly awards as teachers of the month.