8legs: Jefferson parish schools

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Jefferson Parish teachers angry over missing bonuses

Jefferson Parish Schools awarded far fewer merit pay bonuses this year after adopting the state’s new five-tier evaluation system.
District officials say the changes align with the statewide rubric and have not reduced overall recognition of effective teaching.
Teachers felt blindsided by the retroactive application of the new rating cutoffs to last school year.
Board member Steven Guitterrez proposed paying bonuses to teachers rated ‘highly effective’ last year in addition to those rated ‘exemplary.’
Educators say the district did not communicate the policy change in advance, affecting expectations.
Statewide changes aim to improve feedback by adding self-assessments to ratings, spanning five levels from ineffective to exemplary.
Superintendent James Gray said the district followed the state’s changes and that the goal is to recognize effective teaching.
The district links lower bonus totals to fewer top ratings under the new rubric.
Teachers who previously earned top ratings expected stipends that did not arrive in their December pay.
A board meeting discussion focused on fairness and whether to extend bonuses beyond the top-rated teachers.

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