More than 500 educators statewide earned $4.6 million in performance-based bonuses during the 2024-2025 school year as part of the Excellence in Teaching Awards.
The program, founded by Charleston philanthropists Ben and Kelly Navarro, aims to retain skilled educators by giving thousands of dollars to those making a long-lasting impact on students’ academic achievement at high-need schools.
“For too long, teachers’ compensation has been disconnected from students’ outcomes, and these awards change that by offering bonuses to those whose students grow and achieve the most,” said Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education, the portfolio of education initiatives spearheaded by the Navarros.
The awards first were implemented in Meeting Street Schools, a network of public and private schools created by the Navarros to serve low-income students statewide. The bonus initiative has gradually expanded, and now includes teachers from all 22 of Charleston County School District’s Title I elementary schools.
“When we honor great teaching, we inspire more of it,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “Our educators are deeply committed to helping every student grow and succeed, and these awards showcase the powerful connection between great teaching and significant student achievement.”
The highest classroom award this year was more than $57,000, according to a press release. The average award was over $8,000 and 76 percent of eligible teachers earned a bonus, a 2 percent increase from last year.
Teachers can use the award dollars at their discretion. Barbara Ojehomon, a third-grade teacher at Meeting Street-Brentwood, was one of this year’s recipients. She used the money to help pay her family’s mortgage and cover the costs of an upcoming marriage retreat for her and her husband.
“This financial bonus has made a meaningful difference in my life,” she said. “It is a confidence booster. It is a ‘We see you,’ and ‘We know how hard you work.’ It is a ‘You deserve it.’ It is a reminder that my students grew, they learned and I was the one who taught them.”
In March, the S.C. Department of Education announced it would support the expansion of the initiative with a $5 million Strategic Compensation Pilot grant in 10 new schools across the state.
Beyond Charleston and the 10 new schools statewide, a total of 14 additional schools — four Meeting Street Schools in Charleston and Spartanburg, seven HOPE network schools in Allendale and Williamsburg counties operated by the state and three in the Legacy Early College network – also participate in the teacher bonus program.
State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said the awards highlight educators who are moving the needle for students and help set a higher standard for what’s possible.
“South Carolina students deserve nothing less, and we need more bold innovation like this to raise the bar for every child in every classroom,” Weaver said.
The awards program has drawn some concerns from educator groups who argue that paying teachers based on student achievement places too much emphasis on standardized test scores, often ignoring other qualities that make a good teacher. Patrick Kelly, director of government affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, previously told The Post and Courier that tests are designed to measure students’ mastery of a subject, not teacher efficacy.