HOUSTON – Aug. 8, 2019 – For the second year in a row, Spring ISD awarded $93,000 to 57 teachers as part of its EVERYday Counts attendance incentive program, designed to reward campus teachers for perfect or near-perfect attendance.
“We know that student attendance is extremely important, but nothing beats the attendance of teachers as you’re the most important person in the classroom,” said Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Rodney E. Watson during the Facebook Live event, where teachers across the district tuned in to watch the announcement of the winners.
The recipients include 52 Spring ISD teachers, each with two or fewer absences during the spring 2019 semester, who are now set to receive $1,500 apiece. Additionally, five grand prize winners, all of whom had perfect attendance for the entire 2018-19 school year, each received a $3,000 award. All prize winners were selected in a random computerized drawing from a list of eligible faculty.
The awards ceremony was the final one of its kind, as the district’s chief financial officer, Ann Westbrooks, made the announcement for some big changes for all classroom teachers.
“Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, we’re rolling our attendance incentive drawing into the Spring Rewards Strategic Compensation Program,” said Westbrooks. “If you are a classroom teacher … and you have less than four absences for the entire year, you will automatically receive an incentive of $250.”
Also on hand for the live-streamed celebration were Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, chief of school leadership and student support services, and Chief Human Resources Officer Deeone McKeithan. The group was joined for the announcement by Records Manager Gerardo Rochin, who conducted the random drawing, and Internal Auditor Patricia Rios, who oversaw the process.
“We’re really excited about teacher attendance this year because it is so very important for creating a successful learning environment for our students,” said McKeithan.
A total of 175 high school teachers were eligible for the drawing, having two or fewer absences during the spring semester. Three winners apiece were drawn for Dekaney, Spring and Westfield high schools. Carl Wunsche Sr. High School had two winners chosen, while Spring Early College Academy – the district’s smallest high school campus – had one winner.
Out of 348 eligible teachers at 26 Spring ISD elementary schools, one winner from each campus was chosen to receive the $1,500 prize – which winning employees will receive as a separate direct deposit on Aug. 12.
Lastly, 102 teachers were eligible for the prize at the middle school level, with two winners selected from each of seven campuses.
In all, 625 district faculty members with two or fewer absences were eligible for the spring semester drawing. The drawing for the five perfect attendance grand prize awards included 66 candidates, each of whom finished the entire 2018-19 school year without missing a day of school.
More information about the teacher attendance program, including a full list of winners and those who were eligible for the awards, can be found online at www.springisd.org/teacherattendance.
View reactions from around Spring ISD on Twitter
View the Elementary School drawing on Facebook
View the Middle School drawing on Facebook
View the High School and Grand Prize drawing on Facebook