The Medina ISD school board and administration honored 15 outstanding teachers on Friday, May 2, for their dedication and perseverance in educating students.
The recognition was made possible through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program, developed by the Texas Education Agency and Texas Tech University.
According to the TIA website, “TIA was established with the goal of providing outstanding teachers an accessible pathway to a six-figure salary.
Through approved local designation systems, districts can identify and designate outstanding teachers based on student growth and classroom observations.”
Medina ISD developed its local designation system four years ago to reward staff for their accomplishments.
After four years of data collection, 47% of the district’s teachersarenowdesignatedfor monetary awards, resulting in a total of $243,463 in 2025 to be used for teacher compensation.
Designated teachers earn an allotment of between $6,607 and $24,025 for the next five years, depending on their designation level.
“This program has been a key factor in our growth at Medina ISD,” Superintendent Lindsey Kunz said. “Our teachers have always worked extremely hard to see all their students progress in their education, and now they are being recognized for their time and commitment to our district. It is truly an honor to be able to recognize our teachers.”
Recognized teachers for 2025 are Cody Peterson, Mark Coley, Laura Heiderich and Joseph Harlow. Earning Exemplary Teacher designation are Sherri Kelly, Barbara Beltran, Greg Harbour and Deandra Ramirez. Those honored as Master Teachers are Megan Derry, Nicky Gilliland, Jean Smith, Jerri Benner, Neita Ashley, Laura Davis and Laura Beauchamp.
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