Northside ISD Launches Teacher Incentive Program, But Union Calls for Broader Salary Increases

New state-funded bonuses aim to attract educators, but union says permanent raises are needed to address teacher shortage

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Northside Independent School District in San Antonio has begun distributing new state-funded incentive payments to eligible teachers, part of a $290 million statewide initiative to reward teacher experience and performance. While the district says the program will help recruit and retain educators, the local teachers' union president argues that the incentive pay does not address the need for fair, across-the-board salary increases to fully address the teacher shortage.

Why it matters

Texas, like many states, is facing a teacher shortage, and programs like the Teacher Incentive Allotment are aimed at making teaching more financially rewarding to attract and retain educators. However, the union argues that one-time bonuses are not a substitute for permanent, equitable raises that would provide long-term stability and better compensation for all teachers.

The details

Northside ISD says the Teacher Incentive Allotment required extensive planning to meet the state's application standards, and leaders wanted to fully understand the program before implementing it district-wide. Under the program, qualifying teachers can receive bonuses ranging from $3,000 to $28,000. Initially, about 1,200 of the district's 8,000 teachers will receive the incentive pay, though the district reports that 3,200 teachers are eligible overall.

  • The Teacher Incentive Allotment program has been in development for three years across Texas.
  • Northside ISD began distributing the new incentive payments to eligible teachers this week.

The players

Northside Independent School District

A large school district in San Antonio, Texas that is now implementing the state's new Teacher Incentive Allotment program.

Melina Espiritu-Acozar

The president of the Northside ISD chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, who argues that the incentive pay does not address the need for permanent, across-the-board salary increases for teachers.

Texas Education Agency

The state agency that has awarded millions of dollars to school districts across Texas through the Teacher Incentive Allotment program.

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What they’re saying

“The teacher shortage is a thing. We need to make sure we can bring teachers in, and it really did play into why the Teacher Incentive Allotment did need to occur in the district.”

— Melina Espiritu-Acozar, President, Northside ISD American Federation of Teachers (KENS 5)

“Incentive pay is never the way to go about equity pay for teachers across the district, city or state.”

— Melina Espiritu-Acozar, President, Northside ISD American Federation of Teachers (KENS 5)

“The state of Texas has an obligation to ensure that public education is properly funded. Right now, they have not met that obligation.”

— Melina Espiritu-Acozar, President, Northside ISD American Federation of Teachers (KENS 5)

What’s next

The Northside ISD teachers' union will likely continue advocating for broader, permanent salary increases for all teachers in the district, beyond the state's incentive program.

The takeaway

While the new teacher incentive program in Northside ISD aims to attract and retain educators, the local union argues that one-time bonuses are not a substitute for fair, across-the-board raises that would provide long-term stability and better compensation for all teachers in the district and across Texas.