A Pay Raise For Teachers in Killeen, Texas? The Vote is Coming

**UPDATE: Killeen ISD Has Approved Salary Increase For Teachers**

We all know teachers deserve a pay raise. I can't imagine how even the most dedicated educators have been able to survive for the last two years, but there is some good news for those in Killeen, Texas. Killeen ISD is planning to vote for a salary increase that would begin this fall for teachers, regardless of their experience level.

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KCEN is reporting that a proposal by the district has been released to raise the salary of all Killeen teachers by 8%, or a pay bump of around $4,000 a year for some educators. The vote will take place this Tuesday, April 26th, and you can see the full agenda here.

Teacher Shortage in Texas

Part of the push for raises is to try and get teachers to stay in their positions, an issue schools around the state are facing. From 2010 to 2019, the number of teachers certified in Texas fell by about 20%, according to a report from the University of Houston.

The Texas Tribune reports that teachers across the state say they have been pushed to the breaking point by laws forcing them to spend dozens of hours in unpaid training. K-3 teachers in Texas have until 2023 to complete a 60-hour Reading Academies course to keep their job, but for some it is requiring double that time to finish. As a result, many teachers are now considering a change in careers.

A record number of teachers left Texas classrooms in the last two years. Newsweek reports that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 600,000 teachers in public schools quit their jobs between January 2020 and March of 2022.

Looking For The Perfect Teacher Gift?

If you have someone in your life that loves the Lone Star State, these are some great gifts that won't break your budget!

Texas in Top 10 Best States to Work from Home in America

How many people do you know that work from home? Since the pandemic, the number of employers with remote jobs has risen steadily.

WalletHub used 12 factors to compare 50 states and the District of Columbia, including the percentage of people working from home, internet cost, cybersecurity, plus size and population concentration of homes in the state.

Let's take a look at the states that are the best for remote work, and where Texas sits on the list nationwide.

Blue Bell Ice Cream On The List of Top 15 Brands Nationwide

Blue Bell is the official ice cream of Texas, and my personal favorite. According to a new list of the 15 best brands of ice cream nationwide, Blue Bell was ranked in the middle.

In addition to ingredients, texture, and variety, Tasting Table used Influenster and other site reviews as part of its ranking process.

Scroll on to find out how Blue Bell compared to the number one ice cream, and how all 15 on the list were judged.