Instructional coaches, nurses and special education program specialists at Friendswood ISD are among the non-teaching professional positions that will be given a one-time retention stipend totaling $156,000 for the 2026-27 school year, following board approval at its April 13 meeting.
What you need to know
According to district documents, the positions eligible for the stipend include:
- Instructional coaches
- Specialists in areas such as math, science, literacy and English
- Nurses
- Media integration specialists
- Special education program specialists
- Athletic trainers
- Other non-teaching professional roles
The average stipend is about $3,331, though the exact amount for each employee will vary based on years of experience, FISD Executive Director of Human Resources Lindsey Foley said at the meeting.
The stipend will be issued Aug. 20 to eligible employees who worked in these roles during the 2025-26 school year. The employees must sign a contract for 2026-27 and remain with the district at the start of the school year to receive the stipend, according to district documents.
Additionally, the stipend is not Teacher Retirement System, or TRS-credible, meaning that the stipend cannot be used for pension benefits, according to district documents.
The background
The district recommended the stipend after House Bill 2, passed in the 89th Texas Legislature, expanded Teacher Retention Allotment, or TRA, funding for classroom teachers and led districts to adjust salary schedules for the 2025-26 school year.
As a result of the compensation changes, FISD removed certain non-teaching professional positions from the teacher salary schedule due to TRA funding parameters and budget considerations, according to district documents.
The stipend is intended to help align pay and recognize those employees’ previous placement relative to teacher salaries, according to district documents.
