Washington Community School District has been selected for a $550,000 grant. Superintendent Dr. Mike Jorgensen announced Washington is one of 125 school districts across the state to implement the Teacher Leadership Compensation Grant. The grant will start to be implemented in the 2016-2017 school year and will create strategies where the district will develop teacher instructional leaders, teacher coaches, demonstration teachers and added professional development opportunities.

Also, five more staff members will be added to provide substitution relief as identified teachers are used as instructional coaches or demonstration teachers. There will also be an expansion of mentoring for new teachers.

Jorgensen adds he is “very pleased” to receive the grant and it is “very exciting” to be in the first half of schools implementing these strategies.