UVALDE — The UVALDE CISD Board of Trustees on July 10 reviewed draft board goals for the 2025–26 school year and pressed staff for clearer timelines and supports to get uncertified teachers certified under new state requirements.

District staff told trustees that college, career and military readiness (CCMR) projections show an 18% increase for 2025 toward a board goal of a 20% improvement by September 2027. Staff also said many tested subject areas recorded modest gains in “meets” and “approaches” performance categories, driven in part by tighter testing systems and efforts to get students to testing sites.

Why it matters: Trustees linked the district’s strategic goals — high-quality curriculum and effective instruction, well-supported staff, and positive school culture — to classroom staffing and certification. State rules require faster certification timelines for core-subject teachers; staff said the district has about 56 uncertified teachers and that 7% of those became certified this year after district supports.

District supports and limits
Staff described a multi-pronged approach to help uncertified teachers: free online tutoring, monthly check-ins with principals and HR, and milestone tracking. Trustees were told that outcomes vary: some candidates have not tried the certification test, others need to retake it, and still others are not far enough along in their preparation programs.

Staff also told the board the district pays for study materials for candidates and is exploring additional supports such as sponsored test fees, scheduling targeted work time on professional-development Fridays and partnership programs to create time for certificant preparation.

Trustees asked for clearer, individual action plans and for staff to pull direct feedback from the 56 uncertified teachers to identify the practical barriers — time, cost, program access or personal hardship — that prevented certification this year. Staff said HR and campus principals currently monitor progress but agreed to tighten milestone tracking and provide a monthly progress report to trustees.

Leadership pipeline and retention
Trustees discussed promoting from within and establishing a formal leadership pipeline to retain staff and reduce hiring costs. Staff reported the district has been opening many positions to internal candidates first this year and is planning a leadership-development cohort with Texas A&M University–San Antonio that will include time allowances (one day per semester) for employees enrolled in advanced coursework.

Board action and next steps
No action was taken; trustees asked staff to revise the draft goals and circulate updates by email before a planned July 17 special meeting that will include candidate interviews and a proposed adoption vote on the goals.

Closing note: Trustees repeatedly linked certification progress to classroom stability, saying they expect the district to present concrete, measurable steps — including milestone lists, cost supports, and an updated timeline tied to the state’s certification window — at the next meeting.