HOUSTON – Feb. 2, 2018 – A total of 52 Spring ISD teachers each earned $1,500 incentive awards Monday afternoon in the district’s inaugural EVERYday Counts attendance drawing.
The winners were announced in a special Facebook Live presentation starting at 2:45 p.m. for high school teachers, 3:45 p.m. for elementary teachers, and 4:45 p.m. for middle school teachers. Teachers and principals were urged to watch from their campuses so they could celebrate the winners as they were revealed. The event drew hundreds of views on Facebook as both teachers and principals offered congratulations and support to those who won.
“This event was not only fun but important,” said Superintendent Dr. Rodney E. Watson. “The most important person in the classrooms are our teachers, and when they have excellent attendance, our students benefit.”
All full-time, campus-based classroom teachers who missed no more than two days of work during the district’s fall semester qualified to participate in the drawing. The number of incentives being awarded per campus varied by school level and type.
At the elementary level, one teacher at each campus received $1,500 for a total distribution of $39,000 across the district’s 26 elementary schools. At the middle school level, the district awarded two teachers with $1,500 at each of the district’s seven middle school campuses for a total amount of $21,000.
Among the district’s three comprehensive high schools – Dekaney, Westfield and Spring – three incentives of $1,500 were awarded at each campus. At Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, two incentives were awarded. Spring Early College Academy and the Virtual Learning Program were combined in the drawing for one incentive of $1,500.
“Attendance is a very effective way to boost student achievement,” said Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, chief of school leadership and student support services. “This incentive program is part of the district’s strategic compensation work to recognize and reward high performance.”
In all, the district awarded $78,000 to 52 teachers on Monday afternoon. Under the supervision of the district’s Finance and Internal Auditor’s offices, RandomPicker – an online random selection software system – was used to conduct the drawings. A public record showing the drawing details was posted on the district’s website the same day.
Among the winners was Kendra Kelley of Thompson Elementary. In a video posted on Twitter, she said she couldn’t believe it when her name was called. “I was so excited, I thought I was going to start crying,” she said. “Thank you Spring ISD.”
Chief Human Resources Officer Deeone McKeithan congratulated all the teachers eligible for the first drawing and reminded everyone to continue having excellent attendance this spring. “If you didn’t make it into this drawing, don’t sweat it,” he said. In August, the district will hold a second drawing for returning teachers with two or fewer absences during the spring semester – awarding again 52 incentives of $1,500. In addition, any teacher who had perfect attendance for the entire school year and returns to teach next school year will have a shot at one of five $3,000 awards, also to be announced in August.
“Attendance does really matter,” McKeithan said.
View reactions from around Spring ISD on Twitter
View the High School drawing on Facebook
View the Elementary School drawing on Facebook
View the Middle School drawing on Facebook