State Superintendent Sandy Garrett said qualified teachers in 74 Oklahoma schools will be receiving bonus checks this semester. The bonuses are made possible through the Oklahoma Academic Achievement Award (AAA) program that rewards teachers based on their school’s Academic Performance Index (API) scores.
API scores are calculated on a scale ranging from 0 to 1500 for each public school. For elementary schools, the score is derived from results on state achievement tests and attendance rates from the previous school year.
The AAA program rewards teachers working in schools with perfect API scores; the Top 4 Highest API scores in five different groups based on school size; and the Top 4 Most-Improved API scores in the same five groups. The bonuses range from $500 to $3,000.
Because Yarbrough Elementary School was 1 of the 34 elementary schools statewide to receive a perfect API score of 1500, teachers at the elementary site from the 07-08 school year will be rewarded with a $3000 bonus this semester.
Yarbrough School District Superintendent, Jim Wiggin, said that he is very proud of the elementary school for earning this distinction. Wiggin continued, “I know that the teachers, students and parents have worked hard to make this possible. We have a great school system, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Teachers from Yarbrough Elementary School receiving the award are Derenda Aranda, Sheila Buhr, Leslie Heiderich, TeNille Mulbery, Kim Neal, Veronica Nevarez, Nancy Roberts, Scott Smith, Misty Viner, Dianne Williams, and Jan Wright.
A complete list of the 2009 Academic Achievement Award winning schools is posted on the Oklahoma State Department of Education Web Site.
