March 21, 2007

Performance Bonuses Urged for Teachers

1997 Alabama Teacher of the Year Robin Litaker speaks in favor of Governor Riley’s performance bonus proposal.

MONTGOMERY – Performance bonuses for teachers will reward excellence in the classroom and lead to academic improvements in schools, Governor Bob Riley and several teachers and education leaders said Wednesday.

The educators, including four Alabama teachers of the year, urged legislators to approve a performance bonus pilot program that Governor Riley has proposed.

“It has never made any sense to me that teaching is the one profession that does not reward superior performance,” said Governor Riley. “Teachers who do more, who achieve more, deserve more. Teachers who get results deserve to be rewarded. People who excel, we reward. We always have in every profession, except teaching.”

The Governor’s proposal was a recommendation made by the Commission on Quality Teaching, a group of 72 education and business leaders led by Dr. Betsy Rogers, the 2003 National Teacher of the Year.

“When teachers get together and come up with recommendations, I think we need to listen to them,” said Cameron McKinley, the current Alabama Teacher of the Year and a supporter of Governor Riley’s proposal. “This is something that in the end will reach students and get them ready for the 21st century.”

Caroline Novak, President of the A+ Education Foundation, said performance bonuses can help recruit more effective teachers. “We need to make sure every child has an effective teacher in their classroom. We know the system we have today isn’t doing the job” to give each student an effective teacher, she said.

The commission members recommend creation of a pilot grant program for local school districts where at least 50 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch. Those districts will be able to apply for funds to design a program of teacher bonuses based on yearly achievement goals.  Teachers will be heavily involved in the design of each program to ensure that the bonuses are fair and also function as an incentive to increase student achievement.

Governor Riley’s education budget includes $6 million for the pilot program. Those funds will be distributed to school districts through a competitive grant process.

“For those who may be skeptical of our approach, let me stress: this is a performance-based bonus program that is designed by Alabama teachers,” said Governor Riley. “Good teachers have nothing to fear from performance bonuses. In fact, good teachers welcome them.”

Governor Riley has also proposed a seven percent increase in pay for all teachers.

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Below is a list of educators who attended Wednesday’s news conference with the Governor to support his performance bonus proposal:

Dr. Betsy Rogers, Brighton Middle School (Birmingham). 2003 state and national Teacher of the Year and chairperson of the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching.

Quesha Starks, Principal at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School (Montgomery)

Cameron McKinley, Riverchase Elementary School (Hoover). 2006 Alabama Teacher of the Year

Stoney Beavers, Blount County Schools. 2006 Alabama Secondary Teacher of the Year

Mike Looney, Superintendent of Butler County Schools

Robin Litaker, Shades Mountain Elementary School (Hoover). 1997 Alabama Teacher of the Year

Caroline Novak, President of the A+ Education Foundation

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