National Board Bonus Could End in SC

Possible cuts to education may discourage some South Carolina teachers from working toward National Board Certification. Currently Palmetto State Teachers who become Nationally Board Certified receive a $7,500 per year incentive. But now the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee recommends that bonus end.

If hard work pays off then this should be a perfect example. An entire year spent analyzing classroom performance, videotaping themselves for evaluations, and of course the paper-writing is all done with the motivation to become a better teacher for our children and get a little reward in return.

With her students' full attention, recently National Board Certified teacher Angela Peterson of Lady’s Island Elementary School picked their brains on how South Carolina leaders should handle education dollars.

"Some schools don't have enough money to replace their text books or get new computers, right? Because we all know how bad the economy is, right?" she asked her students.

While the budget crunch probably isn't their subject of choice, she fears an upcoming proposal could directly affect them.

"I understand that we are having to cut corners places, but I feel like this is something they should try to avoid,” Peterson said.

Angela Riley admits the $7,500 annual bonus played a big role in her applying for National Board and going through all the work it required. And if that money is cut for applicants who follow,

"I definitely think fewer teachers will do it if there isn't any reward for it,” she said.

Which may in-turn, short-change our children.

"You know they do benefit from it because we become better teachers and if teachers don't do it then the children will lose something from that,” Riley said.

And while fifth grade teacher Aracely Johnson is looking forward to the first sight of National Board bonus, had it not been part of the big picture, she says she'd still apply just maybe not as soon.

"Maybe after my personal children had grown a little more because it was a long process and it did take away from a lot of family time,” Johnson said.

The teachers we spoke to and all who have applied so far are safe..they'll get their money. But teachers who are considering National Board Certification should keep a close eye on next year's legislative session when this topic sits before the General Assembly and the Governor.