Laurens County Enhances Educator Support and Student Success with LEARNS Grant

Laurens County Celebrates Teacher Success Through LEARNS Grant

Welcome to Laurens County, where the leaves are changing and the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as LCSD 55 continues to enhance education through the LEARNS grant! This initiative is now in its second year and is making waves in our local schools.

What is the LEARNS Grant?

The Laurens Educators Achieving Results to Net Success (LEARNS) grant is part of the federal Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Program, funded by the United States Department of Education. It’s all about empowering our educators and improving student outcomes. Thanks to this grant, LCSD 55 has partnered with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), an organization that works hard to raise student achievement levels across the board.

Introducing the TAP System

One of the big changes brought about by the LEARNS grant is the implementation of the NIET TAP System (The System for Teacher and Student Achievement) right here in Laurens 55. This system is proving to be a fantastic support structure for teachers and is designed to build leadership skills for those in charge of guiding our schools.

A New Way to Reward Outstanding Educators

A key component of the TAP system is its Performance-Based Compensation (PBC) feature. This means that our dedicated educators have the chance to earn financial rewards based on their performance! How wonderful is that? There’s a special committee that has come together to lay down the guidelines for this compensation, taking into account professionalism, student growth, and overall school improvement.

Recognizing Hard Work

On October 16, it was a day of celebration as 355 certified staff members received their LEARNS PBC! The excitement was palpable, and one of the proud recipients was Kimberly Penland, the current Principal at Ford Elementary School. She reflected on the positive impact of this compensation, stating, “The LEARNS compensation positively impacts the staff and the students of our school district.” Penland emphasized that these rewards not only encourage our teachers but also help with retention in times when keeping great teachers is a challenge.

Building Community and Future Success

When teachers feel supported, students thrive! Penland pointed out that the effort teachers put in each day is what truly matters. “This is an added incentive. Our students benefit from the hard work and effort our teachers put forth to help them grow academically,” she added. Truly, it’s a team effort that benefits the entire community.

Making a Difference at Laurens Elementary School

Just look at the success at Laurens Elementary School (LES)! Master Teacher Merica Dyar, who helped the school transition from an overall unsatisfactory rating to a solid good, expressed how hard their team has worked. “The bonus from the LEARNS grant makes us feel truly appreciated for the work we do,” she said, reflecting the sentiment of many educators in our district.

Adding to this spirit of collaboration and growth is First Grade Teacher Balinda Mayfield, also a recipient of the LEARNS PBC. “The LEARNS grant has awarded me the opportunity to continue to collaborate with my colleagues. It’s a system of ongoing, student-centered professional learning,” she shared, highlighting the significant impact this grant has made on their work environment. She noted that the compensation is just a cherry on top of the fulfilling experience they already have.

Looking to the Future

With cloudy skies overhead and the promise of a slight chance of rain, the mood in Laurens County is bright regarding the future of education. LCSD 55’s efforts through the LEARNS grant and the implementation of the TAP system are shining examples of how we can inspire our educators and uplift our students for years to come.

As our schools continue to evolve and adapt, it’s clear that the dedication of our teachers and the support from grants like LEARNS will lead Laurens County toward an even brighter educational landscape.