PPfT Leadership Pathways are optional professional learning opportunities within the Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) Human Capital System. These rigorous, two-year programs support teachers’ professional growth, development, and leadership in one of several district priority areas, and grant an additional route to increased salary under PPfT Compensation. The current pathway offerings include:

• PPfT Leadership Pathway for Differentiated Instruction
• PPfT Leadership Pathway for Creative Teaching
• PPfT Leadership Pathway for Mathematical Reasoning
• PPfT Leadership Pathway for SEL & CP&I
• PPfT Leadership Pathway for Transformative Technology

Each optional Leadership Pathway consists of four micro-credentials. Teachers complete one micro-credential per semester over the course of two years. The process for each micro-credential includes 

• engagement in 12 hours of specific, professional learning designed by district content experts, 
• application of that learning into classroom practice accompanied by collection of artifacts, and 
• reflection on the impact the application had on their teaching and student learning.

Upon the successful completion of the full two-year program, teachers will earn 15 compensation points.

For more information on how PPfT Leadership Pathways fits into the PPfT Compensation System, please visit the PPfT Compensation website. 

PPfT Leadership Pathways Eligibility Requirements

In order to participate in a PPfT Leadership Pathway teachers must

• be staffed in a PPfT-eligible position and be appraised with the PPfT Appraisal,
• have two years of teaching experience (current year must be in Austin ISD),
• have an effective or better rating on the prior year’s PPfT Appraisal (confirmed after opt-in),
• maintain an effective or better rating throughout the process, and
• not be participating in year one of a PPfT Leadership Pathway at the time of opt-in. 

Please Note - Teachers can only participate in one of the following during any given school year: PPfT Leadership Pathway (only one at a time), PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador, PPfT Leadership Pathways +3, or PDU.

PPfT Leadership Pathways Opt-In Information

Teachers interested in pursuing a Leadership Pathway will opt into their selected pathway during the spring opt-in window. The spring opt-in window is always during the school year prior to participation in the pathway. Each year, 75 to150 teachers can enter each pathway depending on the available support. 

PPfT Leadership Pathway Resources

Staff interested in learning more about the PPfT Leadership Pathways Program should visit the AISD PPfT Leadership Pathway internal website. AISD login credentials are required for access.

PPfT Leadership Pathway Support - Contact Information

Kimberly Valenzuela
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness 
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-1101
 

The PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Role offers experienced PPfT Leadership Pathway teachers the option to serve as an advocate and support for continuing to build the capacity of the PPfT Leadership Pathway Program.  Each PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador will assist their assigned PPfT Leadership Pathway Program and district level lead team in the growth and development of the program. There are 5 LP Ambassador positions for each PPfT Leadership Pathway. Following the successful completion of all requirements for the one-year program, each LP Ambassador will receive a one-time $1500 stipend.

There will be up to 5 Leadership Pathway Ambassador positions available per PPfT Leadership Pathway hosting a current cohort (with the exception of any entirely new pathways). Once eligibility requirements have been confirmed, participation will be determined by the need of the individual pathway based on each applicant’s responses according to the rubric, consider each applicant’s performance and participation during their time in the PPfT Leadership Pathway, consider their stated availability to support, and review how each applicant’s position/content area/campus type/campus location align with those of the teachers in the current cohort of the LP. To opt into this teacher leadership opportunity, teachers will need to complete the opt-in form during the opt-in window.

PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Expectations

The PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador agrees to:

• complete the PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Orientation by the due date,
• support the assigned LP Lead Team in the design/review of the content and professional learning activities,
• attend at least one of each separate synchronous/in-person professional learning session for the assigned LP to support facilitation of the content,
• respond within 24 hours to communications from the PPfT Leadership Pathway Lead Team,
• moderate discussion boards and activities or provide feedback on assignments in the LP BLEND course,
• complete support tasks on the timeline assigned by your PPfT Leadership Pathway Lead Team,
• read any articles or books connected to a specific pathway to be able to support participants,
• serve as a demonstration classroom to allow others to learn from your practice,
• speak with other teachers and staff about the positive impacts PPfT Leadership Pathways, 
• attend LP informational sessions as needed, serve on a discussion panel, and/or share your experience,
• score PPfT Leadership Pathway submissions in the fall and spring, 
• participate in #ObserveMe Protocol during the fall and spring, and
• respect the growth and development process and maintain confidentiality.

PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Eligibility Requirements

To serve in the role of a PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador in the 2024-2025 school year, teachers must

• have successfully completed a PPfT Leadership Pathway that correlates with a pathway currently in session or launching a new cohort, 
• be staffed in a PPfT-eligible position and be appraised with the PPfT Appraisal,
• remain staffed in a PPfT eligible position for the entirety of the 2024-2025 school year, 
• have an effective or better rating on their prior year’s PPfT Appraisal (confirmed after opt-in), and
• demonstrate their interest by fully completing the LP Ambassador Opt-In Form during the Opt-In Window.
• Please note that teachers will not be eligible to participate in a Leadership Pathway, Leadership Pathway +3, or PDU while serving in the Leadership Pathway Ambassador Role.

PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Resources

Teachers interested in learning more about PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador, please click here. AISD login credentials are required for access.

PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Support Contact Information

Chavius Minor
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness 
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-3825
 

Professional Development Units (PDUs) are optional and are similar to action-research projects where teams of teachers identify a need that they plan to focus on throughout the year and develop a plan of study and implementation to address that need. 

PDUs are designed to be a rigorous long-term study in which teachers utilize a repeating cycle of engagement in PD/research, implementation in the classroom, data collection, and evaluation. Team members must be willing to work closely together and devote time in and out of the classroom to successfully complete the process. PDUs culminate in the submission of an online product that meets specific criteria. Those interested in pursuing a PDU will apply at the end of August to begin the process by the end of September. *

*Teachers are not eligible to participate in PDUs and LP, LP+3, or LP Ambassador concurrently.

Opting into PDUs

All current AISD teachers who are interested in participating in a PDU will opt-in to the PDU process during the fall window. Once opted-in, PDU members will be added to a BLEND course to guide their work and allow for submission of PDU assignments.

PDU Resources

Teachers or staff interested in learning more about the PDU resources, please visit the AISD PDU internal website. AISD login credentials are required for access.

PDU Support Contact Information

Hallé Whitington
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness 
halle.whittington@austinisd.org
512-414-1700 ext: 55245
 

The SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador is a leadership opportunity under PPfT. Teachers participating in this role will work closely with the district-assigned SEL and CP&I Specialist, principal, and committee members to champion SEL and CP&I work on their campus and throughout the district. 

SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador Eligibility

For this role, campus principals will work with the SEL and CP&I Department to designate a teacher for this opportunity.

It is preferred that the teacher who takes on this role:

• has completed the SEL Leadership Pathway, CP&I Leadership Pathway, or is participating in the SEL and CP&I Leadership Pathway, 
• is staffed in a primary teaching position and  appraised under PPfT,
• remains staffed in a PPfT eligible position for the entirety of the 2024-2025 school year, and
• has an effective or better rating on their 2023-2024 PPfT Appraisal (confirmed after designation).

*If a campus does not have a teacher meeting these preferred requirements, please contact your SEL and CP&I Specialist.

SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassadors can earn a $1,000 stipend after meeting all agreement terms for the 2024-2025 school year. The stipend will be paid after the school year's close-out, typically in June. 

There will be one SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador per campus. Once eligibility requirements have been confirmed, the principal will designate their ambassador (by August 30th), and the SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador will sign the stipend agreement.

For more information, please visit the SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador internal site. AISD login credentials are required for access.

SEL and CP&I Campus Ambassador Support Contact Information

Chavius Minor
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness 
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-3825

Angela Beckham
Coordinator, Strategic Social Emotional Wellness 
angela.beckham@austinisd.org
512-414-1700
 

The PPfT Campus Contact will serve as the first line of support for teachers participating in the PPfT Appraisal & Compensation System. The PPfT System consists of PPfT Appraisal, PPfT Compensation, Professional Learning, and Leadership Opportunities. Each PPfT Campus Contact will assist teachers in the PPfT Appraisal process providing important timeline reminders and updates. PPfT Campus Contacts will help disseminate district information about opportunities available to teachers with PPfT Compensation. PPfT Campus Contacts will direct teachers to the available resources. 

PPfT Campus Contact Eligibility

• PPfT Campus contacts should be current teachers appraised under the PPfT System
• PPfT Campus Contacts must be willing and able to complete all of the required tasks for the role.

PPfT Campus Contact Support Contact Information

Kimberly Valenzuela
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness 
ppft@austinisd.org   
512-414-1101