Harmony Public Schools teachers across its 57 campuses in Texas will receive a salary increase of between 7 percent and 17.5 percent starting next school year, officials with the public charter system announced Monday.
“We are very happy to continue to reward our staff for their dedication to excellence,” Fatih Ay, CEO of Harmony Public Schools, said in a news release. “Every year our 35,000-plus students consistently exceed state education standards. Our teacher’s hard work is recognized annually by major publications, such as U.S. News Best High Schools, and noted children’s advocacy groups."
In addition to a base salary increase of between $3,500 and $5,000, teachers will be awarded a stipend of $1,000 if they have between five and nine years of classroom experience. Those with more than 10 years experience will receive $2,000. Instructors in the system’s core STEM curricula will receive an additional $3,000 stipend.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
“We see this as an investment not only in our teachers, but in our students as well,” Ay said in the release.
The new salary schedule follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of the $11.5 billion school finance reform package. Harmony chose to target additional funding into pay and benefits for teachers and staff, the release said.
Harmony Public Schools are 57 high performing preK through 12th grade college preparatory charter schools throughout Texas.
