School is back in session for many in San Antonio, and most districts in the area kicked off the year with good news: fewer teaching vacancies on the first day of school than usual.

That may be one of the first measurable outcomes from an $8.5 billion infusion of public school funding the Texas Legislature passed in May. School districts were required to use funds from House Bill 2, meant to address teacher shortages and phase out the use of uncertified teachers, mostly for teacher raises .

District leaders and teaching experts attribute the lower vacancy rates to an added emphasis on workplace culture and targeted recruitment, in addition to the prioritization of full-time classroom teachers by state lawmakers.

Some of these strategies seem to already be working, especially in San An

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