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politics15h ago
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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