MCS teachers rewarded for successes

Thousands of Memphis city school teachers will get an extra $750 in their paychecks this month — part two of a $1,500 reward for sticking out the year in tough schools.

Memphis City Schools administrators set aside $2.2 million in federal Race to the Top money for incentives this year, rewarding 1,378 teachers, principals and assistant principals in 27 of the lowest performing schools with the onetime recruitment and retention bonuses.

The first payout was in December. Teachers will get the second installment June 15.

Memphis and Nashville are the first cities in Tennessee to pay retention premiums to attract and keep high-quality teachers and leaders in hardscrabble schools that often are not appealing workplaces.

“I think it makes a difference,” said Roderick Richmond, chief of school operations for MCS. “It lets people know you appreciate them.

“When you are doing a good job, you should be rewarded.”

(Source: commercialappeal.com)