Taylor teachers are going to see bigger paychecks for the 2025-26 school year.
After months of speculation, Gov. Abbott signed House Bill 2, primarily known as the teacher payraise bill, on June 4, and Taylor Independent School District trustees officially approved salary hikes for educators during the June 23 board meeting.
These compensation updates reflect Taylor ISD’s commitment to remaining competitive, officials said.
Also during the meeting, the district passed a balanced budget of $43.8 million.
For school districts with less than 5,000 students — Taylor ISD has about 3,000 pupils — HB 2 provides an $8,000 salary increase to teachers with more than five years’ experience and a $4,000 raise to teachers with three to four years' experience.
The school board also approved raises for teachers with two years’ classroom experience or less. They will receive an additional $1,750.
HB 2 made no provision for those with less experience, but trustees said there was enough money to provide additional funds to new educators’ salaries.
A beginning teacher will gain another $1,500 for a base salary of $53,500.
“We have to try and stay competitive in order to attract and retain the best teachers in the area,” said Anita Volek, executive director of the Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation and a Taylor ISD trustee.
Seventy-two percent of current teachers said they’re proud to work at Taylor ISD, according to a staff survey presented by Jennifer Patschke, assistant superintendent of human resources and federal programs. Volek said offering more money is one way to recognize the district’s hardworking educators.
Teacher salary increases were phase one of the district’s compensation plan.
Phase two, which will include raises for district staff positions such as nurses, counselors, maintenance and administration, will be determined during July’s school board meeting.
“We look forward to coming back in July with compensation updates for all nonteaching positions,” said Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen.
The board also OK’d a $40 increase to offset rate hikes to the district’s monthly health insurance contribution following a presentation by Julie Porter, payroll coordinator for Taylor ISD.
“I am deeply grateful for the continued support of our board of trustees. They passed a balanced budget and raises for our teachers, a large part of the foundation for all the work we do,” said Garcia-Edwardsen in a prepared release. “Our trustees always search for how to best take care of those who take care of our future –– the students who come through our doors every day.”
The next board meeting is 7 p.m. July 21 at 3101 N. Main St.
