Willis ISD approves $1K sign-on bonus for new bilingual teachers

The Willis ISD board of trustees approved a $1,000 one-time sign-on bonus for newly hired bilingual teachers for the 2025-26 school year at its Feb. 12 meeting.

What to know

Robert Whitman, the district's chief human resources officer, told the board that Chief Financial Officer Garrett Matej confirmed funds were set aside in the 2024-25 budget for the sign-on bonuses for certified bilingual teachers.

Whitman said teachers would be required to sign a document stating they will stay for the entire school year, as the bonus will be given to them in September. If a teacher resigns prior to the end of the school year, they will have to repay the money to the district.

More details

In addition, the district offers an annual stipend to bilingual teachers.

“We are in range [with other school districts] but there are a few who have a better stipend, [and] this is just a tough market across the state,” Whitman said.

Here are the stipends in several area school districts:

• Willis ISD: $4,000
• Conroe ISD: $4,500
• Houston ISD: $5,000
• Spring ISD: $5,500
• Katy ISD: $4,500
• Fort Bend ISD: $4,000

What else

A presentation about the state of the bilingual program will be held during the March 19 meeting at Sharon Hill Jennette Administration Building, 612 N. Campbell St. in Willis.