Texas Border Business
SAN JUAN, Texas – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) Board of Trustees approved a competitive compensation plan for all employees for the 2026-2027 school year during its regular School Board meeting held Monday, August 17, 2026, at the PSJA ISD Lecture Hall.
Through continued efforts by the Superintendent and Administration to recruit and retain high-quality employees while remaining fiscally responsible, the following salary increases were presented and approved by the PSJA ISD Board of Trustees:
| Teachers |
| $60,000 starting teacher pay (teachers with 0 years of experience) |
| $1,300 (For ALL Employees on the Teacher Pay Scale) |
| House Bill 2 |
| Teachers moving from 2 years of experience to 3 years will receive the state raise of $2,500 in addition to the $1,300 from the district |
| Teachers moving from 4 years of experience to 5 years of experience will receive an additional $2,500 from the state in addition to the $1,300 from the district |
| All other employees: |
| A 3% increase from the midpoint for all other full-time administrative assistants, clerical/paraprofessionals, and auxiliary employees |
| A 2% increase from the midpoint for all other professional employees |
“At PSJA ISD, investing in our employees is an investment in the success of our students and the future of our entire school community,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alejandro Elias. “This compensation plan recognizes the dedication and expertise our employees bring to their work every day. By increasing salaries and expanding opportunities for teachers to increase their earning potential through the Teacher Incentive Allotment, we are working to ensure PSJA remains a place where talented educators and staff choose to build their careers and make a lasting impact.”
In addition to providing competitive salaries, PSJA ISD will continue to cover 100% of healthcare costs under the district’s base plan for all full-time employees at no cost to the employee. The district has also maintained a nearly 98% teacher retention rate, reflecting its continued focus on recruiting, supporting, and retaining high-quality educators.
PSJA ISD continues to expand opportunities for educators through the Texas Education Agency’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). The district first received approval for its TIA Local Designation System during the 2022-2023 school year and, in 2026, earned a five-year renewal of its local designation system.
Currently, a record 82% of eligible PSJA ISD educators have earned official TIA designations, providing teachers with opportunities to significantly increase their earning potential while remaining in the classroom. Through TIA and the district’s strategic compensation efforts, more than 345 PSJA ISD educators are now earning six-figure salaries.
These investments reflect PSJA ISD’s continued commitment to attracting, developing, rewarding, and retaining high-quality employees while ensuring students across the district have access to exceptional educators and learning opportunities.
