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CFISD doubles down on teacher pipelines and residency program as separations decline

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees · November 8, 2025
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Summary

Human-resources staff told trustees they boosted recruitment activities, raised substitute fill rates to 89.4%, and expanded the paid teacher‑residency program from 7 to a planned 76 residents; the district reported a 10% reduction in separations year‑over‑year.

Cypress‑Fairbanks ISD human‑resources staff updated trustees on Nov. 6 about recruiting, substitute coverage and retention initiatives designed to reduce vacancies and stabilize staffing.

HR presenters described a three‑pronged recruitment pipeline that includes CFISD teacher‑prep students, targeted college recruitment and career fairs. The district hosted a career fair that drew nearly 1,972 visitors to the Berry Center seeking CFISD positions last year, and HR said it participated in a total of 57 recruitment events that yielded more than 1,100 teacher hires for the district.

The substitute fill rate improved from 81.3% in 2023–24 to 89.4% in 2024–25, HR staff said, citing active‑pool requirements and outreach as contributing factors. HR also highlighted the teacher residency program: after placing an initial seven residents in partnership with Region 4, the district plans to scale that cohort to about 76 paid residents as part of the 2025–26 buildout.

On turnover, HR reported 1,105 teacher separations at year end in 2024–25 compared with 1,230 the prior year — a roughly 10% decrease. HR said most midyear resignations were for personal reasons (medical, relocation, promotions outside education) and that district attrition typically remains below the state average.

Administrators cautioned that while vacancies have provided short‑term payroll savings used to shrink a budget deficit, filling positions later will raise ongoing personnel costs and must be planned for in future budgets.

What’s next: HR will continue recruitment and retention initiatives, increase stipends for special‑education teachers and monitor fill rates as the district phases in more teacher residents.