Lee County School District Superintendent Denise Carlin said teacher vacancies have dropped from more than 230 to about 40 ahead of the Aug. 11 start of the school year, citing higher pay and recruitment incentives.
Brian Tietz
School District of Lee County reduced teacher vacancies from more than 230 to about 40 ahead of the Aug. 11 start of the school year.
Superintendent Denise Carlin credited the improvement to higher teacher pay and recruitment incentives. Last year, Lee County approved an average teacher pay increase of about 7%, the largest percentage increase in Florida, and introduced bonuses of up to $10,000 for teachers who take positions in high-need schools and teach core subjects such as English, math, science and social studies.
The district’s goal is to have a certified teacher in every classroom on the first day of school while continuing efforts to recruit and retain educators throughout the year. District leaders said they remain focused on long-term staffing stability, WINK News reports.