LEAD Public Schools CEO Dr. Ricki Gibbs says his predecessor developed an innovative way to keep the public charter school operators’ best teachers in the classroom.¶
Under LEAD’s pay-for-performance plan, teachers can earn up to $100,000 a year through annual bonuses that are based on their Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluations and student outcomes.¶
LEAD also created a master teacher program that enables high-performing teachers to take on more leadership roles in their schools. ¶
“We tell our teachers if you show up and show out for students every single day, and are getting the outcomes we know that will change students’ lives, we want to incentivize your pay, and we’ll pay you up to a 10 percent increase each year to remain in the classroom and continue doing this life-changing work,” said Gibbs.¶
Gibbs discussed LEAD’s pay-for-performance plan at the education organization Tennessee SCORE’s annual State of Education event on Wednesday.¶
Elevating Excellence and Expanding Access¶
Differentiated compensation based on performance and strategic staffing structures to expand the reach of effective educators, like LEAD offers, are among SCORE’s recommended policy priorities for 2026 to “elevate excellence in teaching.”¶
“Great teaching is the single most important in school driver of in-school learning and long-term success. Investment in great teaching is an investment in every student,” said SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri.¶
SCORE’s policy priorities also include recommendations to expand access to high-quality school options by providing more funding for public charter school facilities. Charter schools are free public schools that operate under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
Unlike traditional public schools, charters do not receive local funding for facilities and frequently must divert instructional and operational funding to cover those expenses. SCORE is recommending that state lawmakers approve providing $1,500 per student to the state’s charter schools to address the so-called facilities funding gap.¶
“A bright spot for our state has been the success of the more than 100 public charter schools across Tennessee, because they are generally providing a high-quality choice to families seeking a unique focus,” said Mansouri. “At many charter schools across Tennessee students are reaching higher rates of growth than their district peers, according to TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System).” ¶
Engine for Economic Independence¶
SCORE’s other policy priorities include strengthening accountability systems like the School Letter Grades and transforming education to serve as an “engine for economic independence.”¶
The organization recommends improving dual enrollment programs that high school students utilize to receive college credits that actually lead to careers. SCORE says that most dual-enrollment students aren’t completing as many courses as they have available, and many take courses that don’t connect to a career.¶
State data shows that more than half of students dual-enrolled at community colleges earn just 6 or fewer credits.¶
