Ahead of Career Fair, Fulton Announces New Teacher Signing Bonus

Sign up for the Roswell Patch newsletter!

The Fulton County School System has announced it will provide a signing bonus to new 2015-16 teaching hires, the first system in Georgia to make such a move.

This news will excite the more than 750 applicants who are registered to attend the district’s GO Fulton! Career Fair March 10 at the Georgia International Convention Center.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the official, exhibition hall style event beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m. Throughout the day, teaching candidates will be able to meet-and-greet with leaders from each school and interview on the spot for positions available next fall.

In Fulton County, teacher salaries start around $40,000 for a new graduate with a bachelor’s degree, making the school system one of the highest paying districts in Georgia. However, an up to $2,500 bonus can be awarded depending on teaching specialty and in which school the teacher is placed.

Teachers who sign contracts in high needs content areas (math, science, special education, world language and some career technology fields) and for hard-to-staff schools (37 designated schools throughout the district) will receive a larger bonus, but all new teaching hires will receive at least $1,000. In order to be eligible, new teachers must provide direct instruction to students in a classroom setting and be hired by Sept. 1, 2015.

“The success of a school system lies in its people, and we want teachers to join our team because they care about kids and want to grow and improve with us,” said Superintendent Robert Avossa. “Candidates already want to work for Fulton County Schools because of the great, innovative work we’re doing as a charter system, but this bonus sweetens the pot. We will be able to attract more highly qualified teachers and have our pick of the best candidates who can really make a difference with students.”

The bonus is available to new graduates, veteran teachers who are new to Fulton County Schools and returning teachers who took a break in-service (at least 12 months) from the system. Teaching candidates are expected to have earned appropriate professional certification by the start of their employment. Approximately 700-800 new teachers are being recruited for the 2015-2016 year to accommodate student growth and attrition.

The incentive is a one-time bonus and will be paid in two installments during the new teacher’s first semester of employment. To receive the full payment, the teacher also must go through Fulton’s unique Teacher Induction Program (GO Fulton! TIP) and fully complete the fall semester.

The signing bonus is one of several strategic initiatives under way to attract and retain top talent, the system said. Approximately 12-15 of the district’s highest performing teachers are being specifically recruited to teach at three schools with the highest academic support needs. Financial incentives are being given to these teachers as well as additional scope and responsibilities.

In addition, Avossa last week announced to employees that he is recommending a salary increase as well as a step increase for all eligible employees, both teaching and non-teaching, as part of the fiscal year 2016 budget under development.

The proposal, however, must first be approved by the school board, which is scheduled to adopt the final budget in June.

Image via Shutterstock