Oklahoma State Superintendent Proposes Teacher Pay Reform

State School Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a one-year pilot of teacher signing bonuses that peak at $50,000 for experienced teachers from other states certified in early and special ed.

Walters said the teachers would have to stay on the job five years to get the full amount.

Walters announced the plan in Warner, a district highlighted he said because of top performance while struggling to recruit and retain teachers.

“We're very proud of the work being done at Warner Public Schools, another 'A' school as the school report cards come out,” he said.

Walters said the bonus plan would be nationally advertised, and “make a splash and say we are going to fix the teacher shortage.”

Walters said the State Department of Education would immediately begin handling applications for the bonus and a teacher incentive plan to reward the top teachers in a district with extra pay.

He’s also asking the legislature for a $150 million appropriation to fund across the board pay raises for all teachers.

He predicts the bonuses will pull teachers from other states - and lure Oklahoma teachers back to the classroom.

“And so what this will do absolutely is go after the retired teachers, go after the teacher that was doing a great job and then took another job a few years ago," he said.