Abbott Announces New Supportive Policies for Teachers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) recently announced new policy recommendations for teachers in the state of Texas.

In a tweet, the governor stated, “The Teacher Vacancy Task Force released recommendations to address staffing retention & recruitment in Texas schools. Teachers play a key role in the success of Texas students & our state. This session, we’ll work to recruit, retain, & support the best teachers in the nation.”

According to the governor’s statement, the Final Report of the Teacher Vacancy Task Force will focus on “three primary areas of policy recommendations to address school district staffing challenges.”

The policies will focus on training and support, staff compensation and their working conditions. Furthermore, the policies include new funding for increasing teacher salaries; “full-year, paid teacher residencies”; enlarging the Mentor Allotment Program; and providing teacher assistance with technical issues.

"Educating Texas students is crucial for the continued success of our great state, and teachers play a pivotal role in that success," said Gov. Abbott. "I thank the teachers and school leaders on this task force for their work addressing full-time and substitute teacher vacancies in Texas schools.” 

The Texas governor continued, stating, “Their recommendations will help ensure that best practices and resources are available for teacher recruitment and retention. Working with the Texas legislature, we will develop and implement strategies that attract, retain, and support highly qualified educators to provide students across the state with even greater opportunities to learn and grow.”

Family and safety have been a major focus for Gov. Abbott, recently. In a press conference, the governor stated his intentions to fight against the opioid crisis affecting children and adults. 

He stated, “I met with Texas families who have been ripped apart by fentanyl. And, with us here tonight Is Veronica Kaprosy from San Antonio. Last year, she told me about her daughter Danica, a bright, young woman lost in her prime because she took a pill not knowing it was laced with fentanyl.”

The "One Pill Kills" awareness campaign is designed to bring more attention to the dangers of opioids and curb the death toll affecting several families.