Liberty Hill Independent School District used its September 14 board meeting to showcase a robust hiring effort that added 365 new employees during the past year. With roughly 1,460 staff members overall, the district now employs about 700 teachers and 760 support personnel, a near‑even split that reflects its commitment to both classroom instruction and essential services.
Recruiting and retaining teachers
Human‑resources director Rebecca Owen highlighted the district’s focus on special‑education teachers, noting 13 open positions for teachers and 11 for paraprofessionals. To address these shortages, LH ISD is evaluating compensation, improving caseload support and expanding recruitment channels. “This is the most difficult to recruit, and we’re looking at several angles,” Owen said.
Maintenance, transportation and custodial staff
Maintenance roles remain a priority, with only 60 % of positions filled. The district is actively engaging job fairs, the Texas Workforce Commission and employee‑referral programs to close the gap. Recent pay raises have helped attract more bus drivers and custodians, strengthening the district’s ability to keep students safe and schools running smoothly.
Substitute coverage challenges
During the 2025‑26 school year, 81.5 % of roughly 13,800 substitute assignments were filled, though Friday coverage lagged at 73 % and illness‑related fill rates were just 56.9 %. Owen emphasized a new focus on training substitutes to work in any classroom, including special‑education settings, and improving transparency around the application process.
Resignations and onboarding improvements
Resignations fell 37 % to 249 district‑wide, with 57 of those from special‑education teachers—many of whom had been with LH ISD for only a year. In response, the district is expanding onboarding resources, adding regular check‑ins and using employee feedback to refine the experience. “Onboarding should last the entire year,” Owen said.
Wellness and benefits initiatives
LH ISD contributes $6,048 per employee annually to benefits and is developing a comprehensive wellness program in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The district also secured several funding streams to support staff, including a $1.1 million Teacher Incentive Allotment, a $58,000 Texas Strategic Staffing grant, and a Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities grant that will bring up to 40 new teachers into mentorship and residency programs.
Community impact
These hiring and retention efforts are designed to sustain the district’s growth—two and a half campuses opened this year—and to ensure that families in Liberty Hill receive consistent, high‑quality education. By investing in teachers, support staff and wellness, the district aims to uphold the values of strong families and responsible stewardship that our community holds dear.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
