Hawaii's race to the top, Best teachers to Lowest schools...

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The best educators will be offered bonuses to work in districts where they are needed most

By Susan Essoyan

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 25, 2010

Getting Hawaii's best teachers and principals to work at the state's lowest-performing schools is a key element of the Race to the Top plan to lift student achievement that won approval yesterday.

Nearly $19 million in federal funds, a quarter of the $75 million Hawaii won in the nationwide contest, will go toward turning around the lowest-achieving schools. The plan includes pay incentives to attract top educators, professional development to enhance teaching, and more learning time for students, including summer school.

"The struggling schools have the same characteristics," said Teddy Burgess, principal of Naalehu Elementary on the Big Island. "They're rural. Our biggest struggle is getting quality teachers and young talent to want to teach at our schools. It's hard to get a young teacher to move 65 miles from family and friends to a town that has three restaurants."

After a year of tribulation for local public schools, the news that Hawaii had succeeded in the Race to the Top thrilled many local educators, especially those whose schools most need help.

"It almost made me cry," said Kathleen Romero, who has been principal of Keonepoko Elementary on the Big Island for a decade. "I did have tears in my eyes when I heard about it."

"The state has a really solid plan," Romero said. "It's not just for struggling schools, although we're a priority. I just think it's going to help the whole state move forward."

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20100825_Top_teachers_bottom_schools.html