Salary And Mentoring Bonuses

Section 1012.72, Florida Statutes, Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program, identifies two separate categorical funding bonuses, a certification bonus and a mentoring bonus, to teachers who achieve National Board Certification. Based on availability of state funding, each bonus is equal to 10% of the previous year's statewide average teachers' salary, plus the employer's share of social security and medicare taxes, with a priority on the certification bonus. The statute also limits the bonus eligibility period to 10 years for initial certification only.

District Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program (DHETP) contacts verify the eligibility of each National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and request disbursement of funds from the state when categorical funds have been allocated. Once the funds are received, they are distributed to each eligible NBCT by the district finance office.

To be eligible to receive the certification bonus, a teacher must:

1. Hold a valid NBPTS certificate in his/her initial 10-year validity period or notice of certificate award;
2. Be currently employed by the district school board or by a public school within the school district; and
3. Be certified annually by the district to have demonstrated satisfactory “teaching” performance pursuant to section 1012.34, Florida Statutes.

To be eligible to receive the mentoring bonus, a teacher must:

1. Hold a valid NBPTS certificate in his/her initial 10-year validity period or notice of certificate award;
2. Be currently employed by the district school board or by a public school within the school district;
3. Be certified annually by the district to have demonstrated satisfactory “teaching” performance pursuant to section 1012.34, Florida Statutes; and
4. Have provided (as previously agreed to in writing) the equivalent of 12 workdays of mentoring and related services to public classroom teachers pursuant to section 1012.72, F.S. The 12 equivalent workdays must not be completed during student contact hours during the one hundred and ninety-six days of required service.

The legislature did NOT provide funding for either bonus for this academic year.