Nearly 800 teachers in South Carolina this year earned a prestigious certification that qualifies them for a $7,500 annual bonus.
Data released Wednesday by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shows 14 percent of South Carolina’s teaching force holds National Board Certification.
But talks about more budget cuts could impact the state’s education system. Tuesday, the state Budget and Control Board voted to cut the state budget by another 5 percent. That will trim close to a quarter of a billion dollars across the board.
Earlier this week, the state’s Education Oversight Committee advised lawmakers to scrap the incentive pay plan for teachers who earn the certification after June 30.
In Horry County, 76 teachers have earned the certification this year.
“It was like validation that something good is going on in this classroom,” said Kelly LaFluer, an eighth-grade teacher at Whittemore Park Middle School in Conway. “It has helped my students in the class because now I feel the push to look for better things to do, and sometimes it’s not always about the money, but we need to start rewarding our teachers that are putting education and students first.”
Stephanie Klamut said the stipend contributed to her decision to travel for an hour from North Carolina to teach a sixth-grade class at Whittemore Park Middle.
“I’m an overachiever, but then I wanted to say that if there is a way that I can be a better teacher, then I want to try that so I can help my students,” she said, “I think National Board Certification is mainly for teachers who wants to go above and beyond the normal. If you want to keep those teachers in your community, then you need to have some kind incentive or recognition to make them want to go through the extra effort for the children and for the community.”
It can take teachers up to three years to achieve the certification, which requires tests, video recordings of lessons and examples of student work.
“It keeps us looking for the best for our students and that is first and foremost what the lawmakers and everybody should know: that children and education here come first,” LaFluer said.
Horry County School District Staff Development Director Gretchen Almeida said if lawmakers approve the Education Oversight Committee’s proposal, she isn’t sure if teachers would want to stay in the area.
“Unfortunately, I think it has been a very strong motivator for keeping teachers in the classroom where they need to be strong teachers teaching students,” she said. “I’m afraid if they take that stipend away, then some of our best teachers might decide to go elsewhere."
Almeida said there are more than 330 certified teachers in Horry County.
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