Corsicana ISD board approves transition plan to reach 100% certified core teachers by 2030

The Corsicana ISD Board of Trustees on a voice vote approved a transition plan to bring all core classroom teachers to full state certification by 2030, the board heard at its January meeting.

The plan, presented during the meeting by a district staff member (referred to in the transcript as Speaker 3), responds to recent changes under House Bill 2 that limit the district's ability to use certain Districts of Innovation waivers to place uncertified teachers in core subjects — English, math, science and social studies. The presenter described two staffing strategies: an internal 'Tiger Teacher Pipeline' grow‑your‑own program that provides mentorship and degree‑completion routes through partner educator preparation programs (EPPs), and external hiring that requires new hires to be enrolled in state‑approved EPPs before starting.

The presenter said the district currently lists 76 staff classified as "uncertified" in core subjects; that count includes teachers who are already enrolled in EPPs, in internships, on emergency permits, or placed via DOI. The plan lays out annual reductions so the district attains 100% certified core teachers by 2030. It also includes accountability measures: commitment agreements that make employment contingent on meeting certification timelines and a 90‑day window to attempt a content exam for late hires who fill emergency vacancies midyear.

Board members asked for details about cohort size and selection for the grow‑your‑own program; the presenter said the first cohort included five participants, and subsequent cohort size will depend on district openings and principals' recommendations. The presenter also said special education teachers are included in the tracking and in the Tiger Teacher Pipeline.

A trustee moved to approve the plan "as presented by mister Thorne," the motion was seconded and the chair called for the ayes. The transcript records the motion carried on a voice vote; the record does not include a roll‑call or individual vote tallies.

What happens next: under the approach described, the district will apply for the state‑allowed extension through 2030 and implement the Tiger Teacher Pipeline, with principal recommendations and periodic reporting to the board.