Signing Bonus Opportunities

Eligibility for hard-to-fill stipend bonus

Wilson County Schools will give a one-time $3,000 signing bonus to select newly hired teachers who will be teaching in one or more of the following areas:

Chemistry, ESL, Upper Division Mathematics (Algebra I not included), Physics, Special Education Education, and World Languages 

Qualifications for the reimbursement are as follows:

1. The teacher must be fully certified and endorsed in the subject area, and possess a valid Tennessee Teaching License. Teachers on a waiver or permit are not eligible.  Teachers enrolled in a job-embedded program and holding a TN teaching license ARE eligible.

2. Teachers receiving the bonus must sign a contractual agreement adhering to the terms noted in the Signing Bonus Eligibility Criteria and commit to working for Wilson County Schools for five years.

3. The teacher must remain employed with Wilson County Schools, in one of the above-listed hard-to-staff endorsement areas, for a period of no less than five consecutive years after hire unless the system determines that it is not in its interest to employ the teacher.

4. Failure to remain employed with Wilson County Schools for a period of no less than five consecutive years after hire, in one of the above-listed hard-to-staff endorsement areas, will result in the employee being required to reimburse the system up to 100% of the bonus on a prorated scale.*

5. The teacher must be new to Wilson County Schools. If returning to Wilson County Schools, the teacher must not have previously taught in any of the hard-to-staff areas as designated in this plan.

6. The teacher will be paid in two equal payments (less applicable taxes) at the completion of the first semester and after successful completion of the second semester.

7. The signing bonus is contingent on final employment approval.

Qualifying Endorsement Codes

• Upper Division Math: 013, 125, 413 (Algebra I and middle school math not included)

• Physics:  017, 129, 214, 414, 417 

• Chemistry: 016, 127, 212, 416

• English as a Second Language: 490

• World Languages: 163, 169, 170, 404, 409, 495, and other equivalent world language endorsements

• Special Education: 144, 145, 459, 460, 461, 462, and other equivalent special education endorsements