Board of Education approves bonus incentive plan for new teachers
The аæèßäapp County Board of Education has approved a bonus incentive plan that is designed to entice classroom teachers to come work in аæèßäapp.
The bonus is for teachers who are new to the classroom and/or new to аæèßäapp. To receive the bonus, a teacher must be:
- a classroom teacher (a teacher of record for аæèßäapp K-12 students);
- newly-hired as a classroom teacher for the 2023-2024 academic year (not employed as a classroom teacher in аæèßäapp during the 2022-2023 academic year);
- a full-time permanent employee in аæèßäapp; and
- employed in аæèßäapp by September 15, 2023.
Teachers who qualify for the bonus incentive plan will receive a $1,000 signing bonus, which will be paid on September 27, 2023, and a $1,000 retention bonus, which will be paid at the end of the first semester in December 2023. Further, an additional $1,000 bonus will be paid on September 27, 2023 to teachers who qualify for the bonus plan and teach one of the following hard-to-fill subject areas: exceptional children, secondary math (grades 6-12), or secondary science (grades 6-12).
Currently, аæèßäapp has 135 classroom teacher vacancies. Teaching jobs are available at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and particularly in the math, science, and exceptional children subject areas.
Board of Education chairman Jeffrey K. Ramsey stated, “Year after year, it has become increasingly difficult to hire teachers for our classrooms – the number of teachers available in the job market is not what it used to be, and unfortunately, school districts are having to compete for teachers.”
Ramsey added, “We hope our bonus incentive plan will encourage teachers to consider coming to work in аæèßäapp. We believe providing this bonus is a way to help attract quality teachers to our classrooms.”
The bonus incentive plan for new teachers is being supported by COVID-19 funds that can be allocated for teacher recruitment/retention. Over the past two school years, COVID-19 funds have been used to provide retention bonuses for current employees of аæèßäapp.
Teachers wishing to apply for employment with аæèßäapp can visit the district website (www.gaston.k12.nc.us) and click on the “Jobs” tab or call the Human Resources Department for more information, (704) 866-6129.