Even before the first day of school on Aug. 12, United ISD teachers and administrators are already preparing to deliver the most effective instructional strategies, those that will reach every student while also creating opportunities to earn a Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designation.

That commitment to excellence was on full display during the Second Annual Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Summer Summit, Enhance the Practice. Advance the Profession., held at the UISD Student Activity Center. More than 470 educators voluntarily gathered for a full day of professional learning designed to strengthen instructional practices, celebrate the district’s success with TIA, and continue building a culture of innovative teaching and quality instruction.

Superintendent Dr. Gerardo Cruz, TIA Director Vania Magallanes, and district leadership welcomed participants and thanked them for investing in their professional growth while reinforcing their commitment to inspiring students and achieving excellence in every classroom.

This school year, 99 percent of UISD teachers and administrators are eligible to earn a TIA designation, following an expansion announced earlier this year by Superintendent Dr. Gerardo Cruz. The initiative significantly broadens access to the state-funded performance incentive program.

“Our district will continue to prioritize instruction, and we want to recognize all those individuals who play a significant role in educating our students and impacting their lives,” said Dr. Cruz. “We want quality teachers in every classroom because we know there is a direct correlation between instruction and student achievement.”

Through the TIA program, UISD awarded approximately $5 million to teachers for the 2025 - 2026 school year. That figure is expected to grow to as much as $12 million during the 2026-2027 school year. While the program originally focused on classroom teachers, strategic compensation opportunities have now expanded to administrators as well.

Dr. Cruz and the district’s leadership team thanked educators for their unwavering dedication to students both inside and outside the classroom, with many educators spending long hours after school and on weekends planning, grading, tutoring and participating in UIL athletics and other training and events. 

Magallanes encouraged attendees to continue making a lasting difference in the lives of students, reminding them that teachers are the single most influential school-based factor impacting student success. She also emphasized the significance of their work within Laredo’s largest employer and South Texas’ only school district to earn six consecutive A ratings, as United ISD positions itself to achieve a seventh.

“When teachers grow, students thrive,” Magallanes told the audience.

“UISD is reaching a milestone with 2,600 teachers eligible for a TIA designation and approximately 200 administrators beginning their data capture year for strategic compensation,” said Magallanes. “That’s almost half of our district family bringing home additional pay that can make a meaningful difference for their families. We are excited to expand that opportunity to even more educators.”

The morning’s keynote speaker was Daniel Diaz, a fifth-grade Pathfinder teacher at Kennedy-Zapata Elementary with 29 years of service. Diaz challenged educators to inspire students one lesson at a time while reminding them of the lasting impact teachers have on every child who walks through their classroom door.

“You can literally feel the spark when you get this many dedicated teachers together in one place,” Diaz said. “The bottom line is we’re not here to sit on the bench this year. Like they say in the game, we came to play ball.

“Sometimes dreams do come true. Every single student who walks through our classroom door in a few weeks is carrying an invisible backpack filled with dreams. Some dream of becoming astronauts, artists or engineers. Others are simply dreaming of a safe place where they feel seen, heard and valued.

“Consider this: As educators, we have dreams too. We dream of witnessing that priceless ‘aha’ moment from a struggling student when you can literally see their eyes light up with understanding. We dream of a classroom where those moments happen every single day.”

Diaz was selected as the keynote speaker because of his outstanding student feedback through the Tripod 7Cs Student Perception Survey. During the program he received a heartfelt surprise when former student Maximiliano Zapata, now a government professor and public servant, took the stage. 

His former student came to share how Mr. Diaz’s encouragement and dedication helped shape not only his future, but also the futures of his siblings. His powerful testimony served as a reminder that the influence of an exceptional teacher extends far beyond the classroom.

“I don’t remember every math lesson, worksheet or equation,” Zapata said. “I remember his patience. I remember the way he corrected our behavior because he cared enough not to let us settle for less. His jokes made the problems we carried from home feel a little lighter. I remember the way he sincerely cared about us. I remember his competitive spirit. He challenged us and expected excellence from children whom society often expected little from. He taught us to compete not only against each other, but against our own circumstances. Your work mattered, Mr. Diaz.”

As a state leader in the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, UISD continues to recognize and reward highly effective educators. As the TIA program expands to meet the evolving needs of the district, UISD remains committed to raising the bar for teacher and student success while creating more opportunities for educators to earn meaningful financial rewards and helping students achieve success both in and beyond the classroom.