Bonham, Texas -- Bonham ISD Superintendent, Dr. Lance Hamlin will complete his first year with the district in May 2026, and he took time to explain some of the challenges he faces, as well as detailed goals now in place to improve the district.
"Bonham ISD is committed to complete transparency," Dr. Hamlin begins. "We believe this will allow us to continue to build trust within our students, staff, and community."
When/why did the hiring of non-certified teachers begin, and what is the trend?
"Bonham ISD began utilizing the 'District of Innovation' (DOI) provision to hire non-certified teachers prior to August 2019. This became a widespread necessity across Texas to combat the post-pandemic teacher shortage. However, since I joined the district in May 2025, our mission has been to reverse this trend. At that time, we had 39 DOI teachers; today, we are aggressively phasing that out.
To ensure our students have the highest quality instruction, we have implemented a three-pillar plan:
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Competitive Compensation: We adopted a $5,000 local pay raise—on top of state-approved raises—to make Bonham ISD a destination for highly-qualified, certified educators.
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Strict Accountability: We added contract addendums requiring all current DOI teachers to be enrolled in an approved alternative certification program within a strict time frame.
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Hiring Priority: Our procedures now mandates that principals prioritize and interview certified applicants first during the hiring season.
The trend is clear: we are moving toward a 100% certified staff."
What is the number of non-certified vs. certified teachers for each grade level?
"We believe in transparency with our parents. While the specific breakdown by grade level shifts during the hiring season, the overall trajectory shows a dramatic improvement in our staffing standards:
| Date | Number of DOI Educators | Status/Action |
| May 2025 | 39 | Initial baseline; plan implemented to reassign or certify. |
| May 2026 | 14 | All remaining DOI staff are currently on track for certification. |
| August 2026 (Projected) | 6–8 | We anticipate reaching single digits as we finalize summer hiring. |
Our goal is not just to fill classrooms, but to ensure that every teacher in those classrooms is either fully certified or actively completing their certification requirements."
Should parents be notified in writing when their child is assigned to a class taught by a non-certified teacher and allowed to change classes?
"We share our parents' priority: every student deserves a highly-qualified teacher in every period. Our current District of Innovation Plan and our 2029-30 Certification Roadmap (attached) outline exactly how we are meeting—and exceeding—state requirements to reach that goal.
1) Bonham ISD District of Innovation Plan
2) District Plan for Meeting Teacher Certification Requirements by School Year 2029-30
Rather than just notifying parents of a challenge, we are focused on solving the challenge. By significantly reducing our DOI numbers from 39 to a projected 6 in just over a year, we are minimizing the need for such notifications.
As Superintendent, I am incredibly proud of our progress. By offering competitive salaries and launching initiatives like the Warrior Collegiate Academy—where students can earn an Associate Degree alongside their high school diploma—we are ensuring that Bonham ISD isn't just meeting basic standards, but setting a new bar for academic excellence and rigor."
Bonham ISD is committed to NEVER STOP IMPROVING!
