Recruitment & Retention

4 Unusual Perks for Teachers That Districts Are Trying Out

By Education Week Staff — March 01, 2019 1 min read
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As recent teachers strikes have illustrated, teachers often feel underpaid and underappreciated. Strapped districts may have trouble coming up with the wages and benefits educators want, while struggling to attract and retain teachers. Some school districts are trying to think outside the box to come up with unusual perks for their employees.

In this Education Week video series, we profile four districts that have done just that.

1. Onsite Child Care at Just $100 a Week

Finding affordable and convenient child care is a challenge for any new parent. One school district in Illinois is helping teachers do just that.

2. Free Gym & Convenient Health Care

A free gym, onsite health care, stress reduction classes—you might find these offered at big companies, but one school district also provides these benefits, to keep employees happy and healthy.

3. Tiny, Affordable Houses

Elementary school teacher Sydney Scharer loves her job in Vail, Ariz., but she couldn’t afford to live in the district on her salary. Here’s what her district offered.

4. Paid Sabbaticals for K-12 Educators

Sara Oliveiri is taking a break from her job as a special education teacher in the Rochester, N.Y., school district—a break sanctioned and partially paid for by her district.

For more videos from Education Week, check out our video gallery.

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