MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Teachers packed Shelby County School board meeting Tuesday concerned about changes to the way they get raises.
Hundreds of teachers filled the auditorium, spilled into the halls and packed the overflow room.
Not a seat was empty.
Many teachers at the meeting had a problem with the way they are scored.
“The cards are stacked against me so much,” yelled one teacher.
They said they were frustrated their raises will depend on their classroom performance, like student surveys, and sometimes the school’s overall standing .
They said it was too cut and dry.
Some teachers though said the pay change is a good idea.
They think it will motivate and reward hard-working teachers, instead of paying teachers based on how long they’ve been here.
“I truly believe it is up to the person to find their own path and make their own way,” said one SCS teacher to the board.
Superintendent Dorsey Hopson said the discussion of a performance-based compensation system began with the Gates Foundation grant application for legacy Memphis Schools.
Hopson said it will keep good teachers in the system, especially at a time more schools are being taken over by the state.
“In this era of accountability, student testing matters,” he told the crowd.
Hopson said too many teachers are misinformed.
He tried squashing concerns through a slide show presentation while repeating one thing, “We drastically want to improve student achievement in Shelby County.”
Hopson said 80% of teachers would get more than a $1,000 raise.
The board isn’t expected to vote on it until they discuss the budget this spring.
The state will have to vote on the evaluation.