HR Trends

October 09, 2023

Half of New Hires Back Out

According to a recent SHRM article, a staggering 50 percent of candidates who have accepted a job offer back out to accept a position with another employer.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher onboarding"

September 29, 2023

Where Teachers Work

New data from the EdWeek Research Center finds 63 percent of teachers polled work in the state where they lived as a child, but just over half of teachers would prefer to work in a state other than where they grew up.

tagged: "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting"

August 21, 2023

Impact of Financial Constraints on Administrative Staffing

Districts across the nation are trimming administrative positions and using funds for teacher salaries and other instructional support according to a recent article from Education Week.

tagged: Salaries, Staffing

August 14, 2023

Teacher Loan Forgiveness an Ineffective Incentive

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program offered by the federal government is a current incentive for individuals to enter and remain in the teaching profession.

tagged: Benefits, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting"

August 07, 2023

Education Degrees Decline in Popularity

Education, once the number one major for conferred bachelor’s degrees, has declined in popularity since the 1970s, falling to the number 10 spot in 2020-2021.

tagged: Compensation, Generations, Recruiting

August 04, 2023

Principal Retention

As educational entities are struggling to recruit and retain staff, a recent survey by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that over one in 10 public school principals left the profession between the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

July 11, 2023

Motivating Employees to Stay Engaged

Creating a workplace that keeps employees motivated to stay engaged in their work and connected to the organization can be challenging but well worth the efforts.

tagged: "Employee performance", "Employee surveys", Recruiting, Retention

July 06, 2023

The Superintendent Gender Gap

Recent data from The ILO Group show women make up fewer than a third of superintendents in the nation’s largest 500 school districts.

tagged: Diversity

June 20, 2023

Effectively Implementing Stay Interviews

Conducting stay interviews using thoughtful and relevant questions can provide valuable information to improve the culture of an organization and increase employee retention.  

tagged: "Employee surveys", Retention, "Teacher onboarding", "Teacher shortage"

May 24, 2023

Teacher Job Satisfaction on the Rise

Teacher satisfaction appears to be on the rise after hitting a record low last year.

tagged: HR, Surveys

May 02, 2023

Leaders in Education Happy with Their Jobs

A surprising 80 percent of school and district leaders report they are satisfied with their job in a recent survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center.

tagged: HR, Surveys

March 06, 2023

Educator Turnover Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels

A recent Rand Corporation report finds educator turnover increased markedly over pre-pandemic levels, but steps are being taken to address teacher shortages.

tagged: Retention, Staffing, "Teacher resignations"

February 23, 2023

Teacher Vacancy Task Force Releases Summary

The Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF), established in March 2022 to examine teacher retention and recruitment challenges, has released a summary detailing recommendations focused on support for teachers.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

February 22, 2023

TEA Releases 2022 Annual Report

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its 2022 Annual Report — a blend of priorities, statistics, and achievements related to the year in education.

tagged: HR, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

February 17, 2023

Retaining Teachers of Color

Although national research indicates teachers of color leave the classroom at higher rates than their peers, data shows that in Texas a significantly higher portion of Black and Latino teachers stay in education.

tagged: Diversity, Retention

February 02, 2023

Employee Engagement Hits a Low

A recent Gallup survey shows employee engagement and satisfaction has declined for the second consecutive year, reaching its lowest level since 2015.

tagged: HR, Retention

December 21, 2022

Alternative Teacher Prep Program Completion

A recently released analysis found completion rates for teacher preparation programs are significantly higher for programs affiliated with institutions of higher education.

tagged: Certification, HR, "Teacher certification"

November 21, 2022

Grow Your Own Programs and Teacher Diversity

As the student population increases in racial diversity, districts must continue to seek ways to address the lack of diversity amongst teachers.  

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

October 10, 2022

National Update to School Staffing Shortages

A recent EdWeek article reported that the majority of campus principals surveyed are still struggling to fill vacancies.

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

September 28, 2022

Supporting Non-traditional Route Teachers

As non-traditional routes to teaching increase, school districts must step up to provide appropriate support and resources to ensure educator success.

tagged: Certification, Retention, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

September 26, 2022

Teacher Quality Partnership Grant

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) awarded $25 million in grant funds to teacher preparation programs through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program this school year.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

September 22, 2022

Texas Teacher Poll Results 2022

The Charles Butt Foundation released the results of their 2022 Texas Teacher Poll, which reports on teachers’ attitudes towards the profession and public education, insights into the challenges they face, their professional experiences, and retention strategies that would keep them in the profession.

tagged: HR, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

September 09, 2022

Public Schools and Teachers Receive High Rankings

Good news from a recent survey, 63 percent of Americans stated they have “a great deal or good amount” of trust in their local public school teachers while 54 percent rated their local public schools with an “A” or “B”.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee performance", Recruiting, Retention

August 31, 2022

Educators Top National Burnout Rate

Teachers in K–12 classrooms have the highest burnout rate in the United States, according to a recent Gallup Panel Workforce Study.

tagged: HR

August 29, 2022

Using Stay Interviews to Increase Employee Retention

Stay interviews are an efficient way to increase employee retention, if implemented effectively.

tagged: "Employee surveys", Retention, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

August 04, 2022

School Staffing Challenges Continue

Hiring challenges continue for school districts as fewer candidates are applying due to low pay, minimal benefits, stressful job responsibilities, and political controversies, according to a recent survey.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, Retention, Staffing

July 25, 2022

Education Staffing by the Numbers

Over eight million people are employed in elementary and secondary schools, making eudcation one of the largest employment sectors in the country—more than either the entire retail or construction industries.

tagged: Retention, Salaries, Staffing

July 25, 2022

Superintendent Job Satisfaction and Turnover Projections

The American School District Panel (ASDP) released survey results that indicate superintendents are satisfied with their jobs and aren’t expected to leave their current roles at any greater rate than in the past.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, Surveys

July 21, 2022

School Crime and Safety Information

Recently released federal data on school crime and safety validate why some teachers and students are concerned about returning to school this year.

tagged: "Epidemic Response", "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "HR training", "Teacher shortage"

July 08, 2022

Texas Ranks Poorly for Retirement Benefits

Texas teacher retirement benefits are worse than any other state in the country, except for Louisiana, according to a study conducted on public pension funds. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Retention, "Teacher Retirement System"

June 29, 2022

The National Educator Shortage

The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) recently hosted the 2022 National Educator Shortage Summit with the goal of examining and addressing systemic issues contributing to the national shortage of educators.

tagged: HR, Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

June 14, 2022

ACP Enrollment Increases but Program Completion Decreases

Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs) were the only type of educator preparation programs (EPPs) to see an increase in enrollment from 2010 to 2019, but completion rates dropped 10 percent during the same period.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, Recruiting, "Teacher shortage"

April 13, 2022

Wave of Superintendent Resignations Predicted

Recent superintendent surveys compiled by the RAND corporation spur concerns of a post-pandemic “superintendent exodus”.

tagged: Retention, Surveys

March 30, 2022

More Educators Threatened by Parents This Year

Forty percent of administrators and one-third of teachers reported being threatened with violence by parents this school year according to a recently released national survey report from the American Psychological Association.

tagged: "HR training", Retention, Staffing, Surveys

March 18, 2022

TEA Releases Annual Report

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released their 2021 Annual Report—a blend of statistics, achievements, and anecdotes related to the year in education.

tagged: HR, TEA, "Texas Education Agency"

March 14, 2022

Retention through Mental Health Resources and Employee Surveys

School staff are experiencing high levels of job-related stress prompting districts to examine ways to do more to support the mental health and well-being of employees to prevent losing them.

tagged: Employment, Retention, Surveys

February 17, 2022

Bilingual Teacher Shortage Worsens in Pandemic

The pre-pandemic shortage of certified bilingual teachers has only gotten worse as we enter the third year of the Coronavirus pandemic.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, Retention, "Teacher shortage"

February 04, 2022

Finding Solutions to Educator Shortages

As districts are struggling to recruit and retain staff, a recent survey by the National Education Association (NEA) finds more than half of educators plan to leave teaching sooner than originally planned.

tagged: Hiring, Retention, Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

January 27, 2022

Texas Teacher Dropouts at Alarming High

A recent study by the University of Houston shows first-year teacher retention is at an all-time low.

tagged: HR, Retention, Staffing

January 05, 2022

Flexible Work Options Help Districts Compete for Talent

Not all education jobs are suited to remote work, but offering options for flexible work arrangements whenever possible is an important strategy to compete with other industries for talent.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, "Job descriptions"

October 29, 2021

Teacher Turnover

As retaining teachers grows more challenging, districts are closely examining turnover to understand and improve retention.

tagged: "HR training", Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher resignations"

October 11, 2021

Teacher Leadership Grant Opportunity

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the opening of the application for the Teacher Leadership Grant (District Practices Fellowship) for the 2022–2023 school year.

tagged: TEA, "Teacher training", "Texas Education Agency"

August 31, 2021

Social Media for HR Professionals

Social media is a tool human resources professionals can use to enhance recruiting efforts and broaden communication.

tagged: Hiring, HR, Recruiting, "Social media practices"

August 09, 2021

COVID-Related Issues for 2021–2022

As the spread of the Delta variant increases infections and hospitalizations across the state, our members are again inquiring about additional COVID-related leave and newly released public health guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", Leave

July 13, 2021

HR Services Sessions at TASPA Summer Conference

HR Services consultants will present a variety of sessions at the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrator (TASPA) Summer Conference July 15–16 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock.

tagged: "Americans with Disabilities Act", Certification, Compensation, Recruiting

June 29, 2021

Demographics Dashboard Now Available in the HR Library

TASB HR Services has created a new tool, the Demographics Dashboard, which is now available to download from the HR Library (myTASB login required).

tagged: Diversity, HRIS, Human, Information, Resources, System

June 23, 2021

Superintendents Leaving Profession After Difficult School Year

An unusually large number of superintendents are leaving education due to the high anxiety and stress endured amidst the challenges of navigating the yearlong pandemic. 

tagged: Employment, Retention

June 22, 2021

Staffing Resources for School Administrators

TASB HR Services has been providing staffing guidance to school districts since 2003 and is proud to announce a new Strategic Staffing section in the HR Library (myTASB login required).

tagged: HR, Staffing

June 21, 2021

Basic Tips for Managing Employee Performance

Performance management is the systematic process by which an employer involves its employees, as individuals and members of a group, in improving organizational effectiveness.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", "HR training", "Professional development"

May 04, 2021

Changing Leave Increments

Requiring employees to use leave in half-day increments is one of many things districts do just because it’s always been done that way.

tagged: Compensation, Leave

April 29, 2021

The Value of Assistant Principals

New research encourages developing the role of assistant principals to advance education equity, promote school improvement, and foster principal effectiveness.

tagged: Diversity, Hiring, "Professional development", Retention

April 09, 2021

Teacher Shortages Don’t Affect All Equally

The pandemic-fueled nationwide teacher shortage that many have feared has yet to materialize; however, there is cause for concern in specific schools and subjects.

tagged: HR, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher shortage"

April 08, 2021

Attrition: An Effective Way to Reduce

Budget preparation is in full swing, and districts may be struggling to find needed resources to support or improve student learning while sustaining a competitive compensation plan.

tagged: Employment, Staffing, "Teacher resignations", "Teacher retirement"

April 01, 2021

Best Practices for Managing Substitutes

Substitutes are vital to school districts, so managing them effectively can increase retention and build your district’s substitute pool. 

tagged: "Employee discipline", Employment, Hiring, HR, Unemployment

March 26, 2021

Strategic Staffing: Part 5—Educational Aides and Campus Clerical

The final article in our strategic staffing series focuses on educational aides and campus clerical staff.

tagged: HR, Staffing

March 19, 2021

Strategic Staffing: Part 4—Special Education

The fourth article of our strategic staffing series focuses on special education services which can be compared to state averages and recommended benchmarks.

tagged: Staffing

March 17, 2021

Recognizing Staff and Students during a Pandemic

It’s always important to recognize the achievements of others, and it may be even more critical this year due to the challenges of the pandemic.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Social media practices"

March 12, 2021

Strategic Staffing: Part 3—Auxiliary Staff

The third part of our strategic staffing series focuses on auxiliary staff who support child nutrition, custodial, maintenance, and transportation services in a school district.

tagged: HR, Staffing

March 05, 2021

Strategic Staffing: Part 2—Teachers

The second part of our strategic staffing series focuses on teacher positions, which can be compared to peer district data, the state average, and TASB recommended benchmarks.

tagged: HR, Staffing

March 01, 2021

Strategic Staffing: Part 1

To provide school districts with valuable information and meet the recent uptick in requests for staffing benchmarks, we are releasing a five-part series on strategic staffing.

tagged: HR, Staffing

February 22, 2021

Becoming a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite

Mother-Friendly Worksites are organizations that proactively support employees who choose to breastfeed their children.

tagged: Benefits, "Employee handbook", HR, Retention

December 09, 2020

Educator Morale Continues Decline

A survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center shows educator morale is low and job applicants are declining.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting, Surveys

December 07, 2020

Number of School District-Affiliated Health Clinics on the Rise

In some school districts across the state, having to take time off work or from class to spend half a day or more attending a doctor’s appointment is becoming a less frequent inconvenience.

tagged: "Health insurance", Recruiting

November 13, 2020

Workplace Culture

Workplace culture is dynamic; it can change over time and has the ability to surround and connect those who participate in it.

tagged: HR

November 10, 2020

Employee Engagement during COVID-19

Now more than ever, educators and those who work in schools are looking to feel a sense of connection with their employers.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR

October 21, 2020

Holiday Travel Reminders

As the holiday season approaches, districts should remind staff about expectations for returning to work following certain travel, as many may plan to go elsewhere for recreation or to see friends and family.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee notices", "Epidemic Response", HR

October 19, 2020

Teacher Burnout and COVID-19 Stress

October is difficult enough in a typical year, but with the addition of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will need to be even more diligent in identifying and managing teacher burnout.

tagged: COVID-19, HR

October 16, 2020

Culturally Proficient Leadership in Schools

Educational entities are aspiring to develop and cultivate leaders who are driven to lead with inclusion, diversity, and equity.

tagged: Diversity, HR, "Professional development"

October 08, 2020

Considering New Teacher Staffing Models

A new report by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) predicts the teacher staffing shortage will worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring school leaders to get creative and consider new staffing models.

tagged: HR, Retention, Staffing, "Teacher shortage"

October 07, 2020

How Unconscious Bias Hurts the Workplace

Unconscious biases affect us all, but in the workplace they can influence salaries, promotions, and even retention.

tagged: Diversity, Retention

September 11, 2020

Beyond the Basics of FFCRA Leave

TASB HR Services recently presented a webinar covering complex scenarios related to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave issues.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, Leave

August 28, 2020

Clarifying FFCRA Leave for Childcare Purposes

Requests for leave, specifically for childcare purposes, are on the rise as schools begin the year with varying instructional arrangements that may or may not qualify as a school closure.

tagged: "Epidemic Response", FMLA, Leave

August 05, 2020

Navigating COVID-19 Workplace Challenges

TASB HR Services recently presented a webinar answering many frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 workplace challenges.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", HR, Leave

July 13, 2020

Optimizing Staff for Safe Student Learning

During this COVID-19 era, staff must be prepared to be flexible in their job assignments and duties.

tagged: COVID-19, HR, "Professional development", Staffing

July 09, 2020

Benefits of Remote Work Arrangements

Remote work arrangements provide additional options for the education industry as they manage COVID-19 exposures and illnesses.

tagged: ADA, Recruiting, Retention

July 02, 2020

Addressing COVID-19 Exposure

We continue to see daily reports of COVID-19 diagnoses in and around school districts, and district HR staff likely have had to deal with these issues directly as more employees have returned to campuses and central office buildings.

tagged: COVID-19, "Family and medical leave", HR, Leave

June 18, 2020

Communicating Remote Work Expectations

As schools grapple with decisions about instructional and work arrangements for 2020–2021, job description modifications and other methods for communicating remote work expectations to employees are being considered.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee performance", Employment, "Job descriptions"

June 17, 2020

Experts Consider Reopening of Schools

Conflicting guidance internationally, as well as within the United States, is making the task of determining best practices for reopen a near-impossible undertaking.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response"

June 10, 2020

CDC COVID-19 Posters and Suggested Posting Locations

TASB HR Services has fielded several calls from districts sorting through the numerous Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posters for the workplace.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Worksite posting"

June 08, 2020

Data Shows Educator Concerns over School Reopenings

EdWeek Research Center’s new study sheds light on educator concerns on returning to the classroom and what factors may determine if they want to return at all.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Teacher resignations"

June 04, 2020

The Challenges of FFCRA Management

Administering the technical details of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) can be challenging and may be problematic if not properly managed.

tagged: COVID-19, "Epidemic Response", "Fair Labor Standards Act", "Family and medical leave"

June 03, 2020

New Opportunities through Virtual Recruiting

The face-to-face job interview process that once seemed immune to change has been thrust into the 21st century amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.

tagged: Employment, Hiring, HR, Recruiting

May 27, 2020

Supporting Staff during Uncertain Times

During these uncertain times, HR can be proactive and take steps to support staff returning to work after workplace and school closures.

tagged: COVID-19, "Employee performance", "Epidemic Response", HR

May 12, 2020

Acceptance of Contracts and Letters of Reasonable Assurance

Failure to return a contract or a letter of reasonable assurance by its due date typically signifies an employee’s voluntary resignation.

tagged: "Educator contracts", "Employment contracts", "Personnel records", Termination

April 24, 2020

Substitute Employees and Unemployment Claims

Texas school districts may see an increase in unemployment claims from substitute employees as a result of closings in response to COVID-19.

tagged: Benefits, Unemployment

February 10, 2020

Majority of Districts Adopt Innovation Plans

According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website, eighty-five percent of districts (875) have been designated as Innovation Districts or have plans to implement a plan in the near future.

tagged: Certification, "Districts of innovation", DOI, "Educator contracts"

February 07, 2020

Benchmarking for Best Practices

Benchmarking allows an organization to identify and implement “best practices” and develop improvement plans.

tagged: HR, "Pay increases", Staffing

January 17, 2020

Teacher Preparation Programs Experience Enrollment Decline

A drop in teacher preparation program enrollment nationwide may result in a teacher shortage, but a lack of detailed enrollment data leaves question marks about how to fix the problem.

tagged: HR, "Teacher certification", "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

December 03, 2019

School Environment Crucial to Teacher and Student Success

Research suggests that the most important factor in teacher success is the school environment.

tagged: "Employee performance", Retention, "Teacher shortage"

November 05, 2019

Administrators Get Creative with Multi-District Collaborative Planning Session

Teachers from Freer ISD and Premont ISD came together for the first of what may be many collaborative planning sessions.

tagged: HR

October 29, 2019

Making the Most Out of Metrics

Metrics can help decision-makers identify trends and manage the workforce more effectively. Using workforce metrics can support a district’s competitiveness and help the district avoid missed opportunities for improvement.

tagged: HR

October 28, 2019

Flexible Work is Key to Retention

According to a survey from FlexJobs, nearly a third of workers have sought new employment because their employer didn’t offer flexible work opportunities, as reported by SHRM.  

tagged: Employment, HR, Retention

October 24, 2019

Handling Employee Discipline

No one enjoys disciplining employees, but every human resources professional and supervisor must be prepared to address performance issues.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee handbook", "Professional development"

August 14, 2019

Considerations for Employee Attendance Incentives

To help address employee retention and attendance issues, some districts look to add employee attendance incentives.

tagged: "Employee discipline", "Employee performance", Employment, HR

July 22, 2019

Report: Employee Engagement Increases Retention

The Predictive Index’s annual Employee Engagement Report revealed some interesting insights into the variety of factors that lead to employee engagement.

tagged: "Employee surveys", HR, Recruiting, Retention

June 25, 2019

Rethinking Professional Development

Offering employees professional development that is specific and relevant to their job duties can empower them to reach individual, and district goals. 

tagged: Certification, "Employee performance", "Professional development", Retention

June 05, 2019

The Role of Smartphones in Job Searching

A new study uncovered some interesting insights on the modern job search, particularly regarding the role smartphones play and which candidates are most likely to use them as their primary tool to hunt for employment.

tagged: Recruiting, Technology

May 29, 2019

Infographic: Teacher Evaluations and Demographics

A study conducted by Michigan State University reveals eye-opening trends, raising questions about discriminatory behavior in performance appraisals.

tagged: Diversity, "Employee performance"

May 13, 2019

Facebook Jobs Looking to Strengthen Marketplace

With more than a third of Americans using Facebook Marketplace, the tech giant is working to improve the content making up its job search function, according to a news release from the company.

tagged: Recruiting, "Social media practices", Technology

April 30, 2019

Fewer Districts Anticipate Freezing Pay for 2019-2020

This year, fewer responding public school districts (20 percent) anticipate freezing pay for 2019–2020 (down from 28 percent last year).

tagged: "Pay increases", Surveys, "Teacher Pay"

April 11, 2019

Discrimination Charges in Texas Continue to Drop

A new report from the EEOC found the number of discrimination charges filed in Texas decreased significantly in 2018.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance"

April 09, 2019

Exploring Employee Survey Response Rates

Employee surveys can be a great tool to assess working climate. Without a good response rate, however, the district sees only part of the picture. 

tagged: "Employee surveys", Surveys

March 20, 2019

Job Openings Continue to Outpace Job Seekers

A BLS report from the month of January found job openings in the U.S. have risen to 7.6 million.

tagged: "Department of Labor", DOL

March 13, 2019

Texas Falls Short in Staffing Schools with Counselors, Nurses

A new report identified a major gap in the availability of counselors and nurses in public schools across the nation.

tagged: Staffing

February 27, 2019

How Tennessee School District is Improving Teacher Retention

As schools focus more and more on attacking problems with teacher retention, one district in Tennessee is reporting positive results from its efforts to focus on employee wellness.

tagged: Benefits, "Health insurance", Wellness

February 13, 2019

New Research: Schools with Disadvantaged Students Have Lower-Quality Principals

A recent study found schools with the highest numbers of disadvantaged students also had the least experienced, lowest-rated principals.

tagged: "Employee performance"

January 28, 2019

Benefits in 2019: What to Expect

A few items to look forward to are HRAs and an expansion of HSA opportunities.

tagged: Benefits, HR, Leave

January 03, 2019

Louisiana's Push to Improve Teacher Prep through Mentors

A grant program in Louisiana sparked innovative ways of improving preparation for alternatively certified teachers.

tagged: Certification, Retention, "Teacher certification", "Teacher training"

December 19, 2018

Teachers No Longer Settling for Backseat Role in Policymaking

This year sparked a new era for teachers speaking out on pay issues and working conditions.

tagged: "Pay increases", Retention

December 17, 2018

EdWeek Dissects Teaching Profession Trends in 2018

The teaching profession received a lot of spotlight throughout 2018. Here's what happened.

tagged: contracts, Employee, HR, performance, Retention, Teacher

December 11, 2018

The 10 Most Popular HRX Stories of 2018

As we count down the final days of 2018, take a look back at what readers found the most interesting this calendar year.

tagged: Benefits, Certification, Compensation, HR, "HR training"

December 06, 2018

Be Careful When Hiring for "Cultural Fit"

If you're not cautious, hiring for "cultural fit" can lead to unintentional bias that undermines efforts to promote diversity.

tagged: diversity, hiring

November 15, 2018

EdWeek: Having Just One Teacher of Same Race Makes Huge Impact

Black students are 13 percent more likely to go to college if they have just one teacher who looks like them by the time they reach third grade.

tagged: Diversity, Staffing

November 12, 2018

Virtual Classrooms Help Alleviate Teacher Shortages

As technology continues to open up new possibilities in education, Texas districts are changing how they manage and employ virtual classrooms.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing

October 16, 2018

How to Improve Your Workplace Culture

Workplace culture is a big deal—it impacts engagement, productivity, retention, and growth. 

tagged: HR, Recruiting, Retention

October 09, 2018

Report: Jobs in Public Schools Haven't Recovered Since Great Recession

While other industries have managed to rebound from the financial crisis, public schools are still struggling to fill key positions. 

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

October 08, 2018

EdWeek: Public Opinion of Teachers Continues to Improve

A recent Education Week report found the public perception of teachers is changing for the better, and drastically. 

tagged:

September 11, 2018

Improving Instructional Leadership

Rising academic standards, among other factors, are increasing the need for school leaders to focus on instructional leadership. 

tagged: "HR training", "Teacher training"

July 24, 2018

2018–2019 TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey Launched

The annual Superintendent Salary Survey has officially launched and districts can submit data up until August 24.

tagged: "Superintendent salaries"

July 13, 2018

Top Tweets from TASPA Summer Conference 2018

Another year, another great TASPA conference! Check out some of the highlights from the event.

tagged: "Social media practices"

July 11, 2018

The Dos and Don'ts of Social Media

Check out this infographic of what to do and what to avoid on social media for administrators and leaders in education.

tagged: "Social media practices"

July 05, 2018

Superintendent Tenure in US, Texas by District Demographics

A new study found tenure of superintendents who have left their position in the nation’s largest schools is about six years, on average.

tagged: Retention, Staffing, Surveys

June 11, 2018

How HR Can Help Substitutes Prepare for Emergencies

There’s a large population of adults on campuses on any given day who typically aren’t included in emergency training and drills—substitute teachers.

tagged: HR, "Teacher training"

June 11, 2018

HR's Role in Employee Mental Health

Recent celebrity suicides have brought national attention to mental health issues. How can HR support employees who struggle with mental illness?

tagged: Benefits, HR

May 31, 2018

Proceed with Caution When Searching Applicants' Social Media

Recent headlines involving inappropriate and highly offensive use of social media provides employers with the opportunity to examine hiring practices.

tagged: "Social media practices"

May 22, 2018

TxCEE Offering Training on Student Learning Objectives

There's a new two-day professional learning opportunity to help district administrators better understand Student Learning Objectives and how to implement them.

tagged: "HR training", T-TESS

April 17, 2018

Recruiting Trends You May Have Overlooked

In an article published earlier today, SHRM explored some new trends in the recruiting field that’ll help hiring managers reexamine and reevaluate their own methods.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

April 13, 2018

How National Teacher Walkouts Impact Texas

The nationwide teacher walkouts and protests are producing results, but where does Texas sit with teacher pay and public school funding, and can teachers in the Lone Star State do anything about it?

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", TRS

April 10, 2018

Many Hurricane Harvey-Displaced Students Not Returning to Home Districts

It's been six months since Hurricane Harvey devastated southeast Texas, and while all public schools in disaster counties have reopened, many students never returned to their home district.

tagged:

March 27, 2018

Report Shows Correlation Between Financial Incentives and Diverse Teacher Workforce

A new analysis from the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution looked into the effects of financial incentives on attracting minority teachers, check out the details here.

tagged: Staffing

March 15, 2018

How to Limit Productivity Issues of March Madness

With roughly 65 percent of the American workforce planning to watch March Madness while at work, administrators must learn with ways to reduce the negative impact on productivity or suffer significant financial consequences.

tagged: HR

March 07, 2018

Survey Reveals 73 Percent of Superintendents Say Schools Inadequately Funded

A recent report from The School Superintendents Association (AASA) found nearly three-quarters of superintendents say their school districts are inadequately funded.

tagged: HR

February 21, 2018

HR Manager Named a Top-5 Job for 2018

A study conducted by Glassdoor ranked human resources manager as the fifth best job in the country in 2018, up from No. 6 last year.

tagged: HR

February 14, 2018

Discrimination Charges in Texas Hit 9-Year Low

The number of discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Texas is lower than it’s been since 2009, according to an EEOC news release.

tagged: Diversity, "EEOC compliance"

February 14, 2018

Salaries in the United States Up From Last Year

A news release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) detailed the wages of the nation's 113.3 million full-time and salaried workers in 2017.

tagged: "Department of Labor", "Pay increases"

November 01, 2017

STEM Jobs Among the Fastest Growing in America

Employment projection data released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights the fastest-growing jobs in the United States.

tagged: DOL

October 09, 2017

By the Numbers: Public Opinion of School Trends

A report from Education Next revealed some enlightening statistics about public opinion of various education topics.

tagged: HR, Salaries

October 04, 2017

A Look at the Teacher Supply in Texas

Despite persistent shortage areas, Texas’ production of newly certified teachers has held steady during the past two years. 

tagged: Staffing, "Teacher recruiting", "Teacher shortage"

September 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve received a large number of questions related to Hurricane Harvey, so our staff collected the most common ones and provided answers and guidance in this FAQ feature.

tagged: Compensation, "Family and medical leave", FMLA, "Teacher contracts"

September 06, 2017

District Closures Could Lead to Unemployment Claims

The devastation of Hurricane Harvey has caused destruction and devastation along the Texas coast and into parts of southeast and central Texas resulting in over 160 district closures.

tagged: HR, Unemployment

August 16, 2017

Talent Dashboard Now Available in the HR Library

Our new Talent Dashboard is a tool that can be used in absence of an existing analytics tool.
Read on to find out what dashboards are and how they can impact your workforce decisions.

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

August 16, 2017

Family Roles, Lack of Mentorship Among Reasons Behind Female Superintendent Imbalance

In the summer edition of the HR Exchange, TASB HR Services published a report identifying trends among male and female superintendents. This follow-up goes into more detail on why the gap exists.

tagged: Recruiting, Staffing

August 16, 2017

Majority of New Science Educators Teach Courses Outside Expertise

A recent survey conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia found nearly two-thirds of new science educators taught at least one course outside their subject area expertise in their first five years in the classroom.

tagged: "Teacher shortage"

July 18, 2017

Multiple Texas Universities to Receive Portions of $50 Million for Teacher Prep

Each university will get approximately $5 million over a 10-year period, with the final figure contingent upon how many students pursue the scholarship.

tagged: "Teacher training"

June 07, 2017

Recognizing Trends in HRIS

How are districts using HRIS in 2017? What are districts doing to get help with their HRIS? Check out some of the latest trends here. 

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

June 07, 2017

HR Year in Review

We spoke with HR staff across the state to learn about what challenges they faced this year and what successes they enjoyed. Some of their insights also give a peek into HR in 2017–2018. 

tagged: HR, "HR training"

May 03, 2017

10 Important Facts About Generation Z

Districts who have a grasp on what motivates Generation Z will have a better chance at recruiting and retaining them. Here’s what we know so far.

tagged: Employment, Recruiting

May 03, 2017

Districts Cautiously Approach Pay Increases for 2017‒2018

Pay raises are in a holding pattern for 2017‒18 in Texas schools, with overall expected increases unchanged from last year, according to the latest prospective pay raise poll conducted by TASB HR Services.

tagged: Compensation, "Pay increases", Salaries

April 19, 2017

Texas Rural Schools Task Force Makes Recommendations on Teacher Recruitment, Retention

The Rural Schools Task Force hosted regional forums on teacher recruitment, retention, use of technology, resource allocation, as well as parent and community engagement.

tagged: Recruiting, Retention, "Teacher recruiting"

March 22, 2017

Facebook Now Allows Employers to Post Jobs from Company Page

There's now another place you can post job vacancies online—your district’s Facebook page.

tagged: Hiring, Recruiting, "Social media practices", "Teacher recruiting"

March 15, 2017

Identifying and Avoiding the W-2 Phishing Scam

A fraudulent phishing scam has circulated throughout districts in Texas and across the country in recent months, exposing private W-2 information of employees in several school districts.

tagged: HR

March 01, 2017

The New American Dream and Your Workforce

Learn how the new American Dream crafted by millennials may affect public education employers in this article. 

tagged: Benefits, Compensation, Employment

February 17, 2017

8 Tips for Getting Started on Twitter

Considering the opportunities to market district culture, the ability to network, recruit, and keep up with the latest news, Twitter provides numerous benefits for someone in an HR role. 

tagged: "Social media practices"

November 29, 2016

The Importance of School Climate and How to Improve It

School climate impacts multiple variables in a school’s success, from retaining teachers to overall achievement. Here's how to improve yours. 

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment

November 23, 2016

Using HRIS Effectively

Knowing your HR Information System’s capabilities and maximizing them for your district’s benefit will inspire greatness in your department.

tagged: HRIS, "Human Resources Information System"

October 25, 2016

New Initiatives in Teacher Prep Programs

The value in spending time and resources in training teachers is higher than ever, thanks to a variety of initiatives, programs, and legislation forming around the country. Read about some of the recent developments in teacher prep here. 

tagged: "Teacher training"

October 05, 2016

Driving Employee Engagement

The value of employee engagement cannot be understated. Here's how you can ensure your district is taking the right steps in providing an engaging work environment. 

tagged: "Employee performance", Employment

September 07, 2016

Platforms for Safer Teacher-Student Communication

One of the elements of education that has evolved with the growth of technology is how educators are communicating with their students, particularly outside of class. Find out what group-messaging platforms districts are using and how to facilitate that communication in this story. 

tagged:

September 07, 2016

Education Field Struggles to Attract Millennials

Pay structures and retirement systems in education no longer meet the needs of new graduates, and they appear to be driving high-achieving millennials into other professions. What can the education field do to attract the new generation?

tagged: Generations

August 04, 2016

Peering Into the Crystal Ball: Seven Predictions for HR in 2016–2017

While predicting the future sounds like the stuff of horoscopes and psychics, anticipating what’s headed our way can help us be prepared for the possible challenges. What’s in store for HR in 2016-17? Let’s take a look into our crystal ball.

tagged: FLSA, HR, T-TESS

June 16, 2016

7 Ways to Improve Online Applications

It’s tough to keep up with the latest trends in best practices for online application management. Fortunately, we’ve come up with some ways to make sure your district is current in its online recruiting presence.

tagged: Recruiting, "Teacher recruiting"

May 23, 2016

The New Age of Career Discovery

The successful matchmaking website eHarmony.com recently unveiled the beta version of its next venture, Elevated Careers by eHarmony. Is this the way Generation Z will look for jobs?

tagged: HR

May 18, 2016

The Top Challenges Facing HR

The field of human resources has been around for more than a century, but as the workplace continues to evolve, so must the HR profession. We take a look at some of the field's biggest challenges for the future.

tagged: HR, "HR training"

April 13, 2016

Reducing the Contagious Effects of a Low-Performing Employee

The dangerous part about low-performing employees is the contagious effect they have on their coworkers. A recent study shows underachievers not only reduce workplace morale but drive out their high-performing colleagues.

tagged: "Employee performance"

March 07, 2016

Strong Social Media Practices Beneficial to District Employers

With ongoing teacher shortages, many districts are turning to social media to recruit young talent. 

tagged: "Social media practices"

February 16, 2016

Texas Tech's Teacher Prep Program Gets $7M for Gates-Funded Reform

The Gates Foundation announced its intent to focus its education reform efforts on teacher preparation in April 2015. Its first effort includes a grant for Texas Tech's College of Education.

tagged: "Teacher training"