Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed merit pay system for teachers could help the state gain more than $400 million in federal funds, but many teachers are receiving false information about it, his spokesman says.
Bert Brantley, a spokesman in the governor’s office who is married to a teacher, says researchers will seek input from education stakeholders across Georgia before finalizing the new system, proposed to go into effect in 2014. It must be approved by the Legislature.
Among teachers’ concerns are that their evaluations would be based on how well students perform on a single test, whether poorly performing schools could attract good teachers, what criteria would be used to determine how much students learn, and whether the Legislature can even be trusted to fund its own programs.
“I’m sad that a lot of the information they’re responding to are things we’ve already taken into account,” Brantley said.
Pay for performance is one major piece of Georgia’s application for Race to the Top funding. If selected, the state stands to receive up to $463 million in federal grant money over four years. The grant program is designed to improve education by offering financial incentives to states with innovative ideas.
Race to the Top money could be used only for certain items outlined in the 200-page grant application submitted by the state on Wednesday. One major item is a data system that would track student growth and information about individual students such as where they went to school and how they performed at their previous locations.
“That in and of itself would be a reason to do Race to the Top — just to get that,” Brantley said. “(Gov. Perdue) is very excited about the program as a whole and the prospects of the program for Georgia.”
Federal officials expect to announce grant recipients in April. Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications.
Georgia was one of 15 states that received technical assistance for application development from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. According to a press release from the governor’s office, the foundation selected states based on “how well poised they are to win” the grant.
A merit pay system will save money for Georgia as the state no longer has to automatically dole out pay for new teachers earning advanced degrees, Brantley said. No dollar figure of expected savings was available. He said some teachers can earn more money than they would under the old system earlier in their careers.
“The idea,” Brantley said, “is to allow our best and brightest to break through that schedule that’s there now.”
Jim Barrett, an eighth-grade teacher at LaFayette Middle School and president of the district 1 division of the Georgia Association of Educators, said he hopes lawmakers and developers take teachers’ concerns into account.
“I’m not against teachers who do a great job getting rewarded,” Barrett said, “but (it should be) a holistic approach.”
Education
Race to the Top focuses on ‘incentive’ for teachers, governor spokesman says
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Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair. Pictured from left are Josh Rountree, Audrey Edds, Bryan Cooper and Eli McMahon.
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
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Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
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Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
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Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
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Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
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Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
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The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
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MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
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Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
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Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
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Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
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Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
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Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
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Gladden assigns January Dreamcatcher award
Every month, one of the faculty members at Gladden Middle School is recognized for having the most clean and organized room. The award given is called the Dream Catcher Award. Seventh grade social studies teacher Jennifer Bennett was awarded the Dream Catcher Classroom of the Month for January and will hang the Dream Catcher model in her room until the next month.
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