In the Zone

It is important that we recognize our teachers for the great work they are doing in our highest need schools. In 2012, Memphis City Schools is launching a new monetary reward program only for teachers who excel in our high need schools. MCS in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) will provide monetary achievement based awards to high performing staff members in the district’s Striving Schools and MCS campuses in the Tennessee Achievement School District. All certified staff, including school counselors and librarians, are eligible for awards of up to $3,000 per year if they work at least 90 days of instructional time with students during the school year. Determination of whom and which schools receive the award are based solely on student achievement gains. Student achievement gains are determined using the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) which measures a student’s yearly growth based on their past performance. To receive the full stipend, award winners must facilitate or participate in district-wide professional development activities, or serve as a peer mentor/coach, or assist school leaders by accepting additional leadership roles and responsibilities within their school.  The purpose of the incentive is to reward high performing school employees and promote sharing of the effective practices that led to the high student achievement. The first award will be given at the end of the 2012-13 school year and staff members hired during the 2010-11 and 2012-13 school years will be eligible to receive it.

Schools eligible to participate in the In the Zone program are:

  • Alcy Elementary
  • Caldwell- Guthrie Elementary
  • Cherokee Elementary
  • Dunbar Elementary
  • Egypt Elementary
  • Evans Elementary
  • Fairley Elementary
  • Georgia-Avenue Elementary
  • Georgian Hills Elementary
  • Getwell Elementary
  • Ross Elementary
  • Vollentine Elementary
  • Cypress Middle
  • Fairview Middle
  • Hamilton Middle
  • Lester Middle
  • Raliegh Egypt Middle
  • B.T. Washington High
  • Craigmont High
  • Frayser High
  • Hamilton High
  • Hillcrest High
  • Kingsbury High
  • Manassas High
  • Northside High
  • Sheffield High
  • Trezevant High
  • Wooddale High