1. What is "Reward Excellence, Remove Negligence"?

Portland Public Schools has too often protected ineffective teachers while failing to recognize and reward outstanding educators. This imbalance hurts students, frustrates good teachers, and wastes taxpayer money. This policy streamlines accountability—quickly removing teachers who fail to improve—and rewards excellent teachers with higher pay and professional recognition, creating a school system that truly values teaching excellence.

2. Why is this necessary in Portland right now?

Many PPS classrooms suffer because chronic underperformance goes unchecked, and talented educators often leave because their efforts aren't recognized or rewarded. Families lose trust, students suffer academically, and morale sinks across the district. PPS spends millions on administrative positions and redundant roles, like approximately $1 million annually, on "Restorative Justice Coordinators," rather than investing directly in teacher quality and student outcomes.

3. How will PPS specifically address ineffective teaching?

1. Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) System

   • PPS will immediately adopt a Peer Assistance and Review system. Struggling teachers will be paired with expert mentors—experienced educators and principals—to create clear improvement plans.

   • Teachers have a strict six-month period to show measurable improvements. Those who fail will face immediate dismissal.

2. Streamlined Dismissal Process

   • Teachers who consistently perform poorly after two consecutive negative annual evaluations or fail their six-month PAR improvement plan will be swiftly and fairly dismissed.

   • PPS will simplify bureaucratic processes to ensure poor performance does not linger in our schools.

4. How will PPS reward excellent teaching?

1. "Ace Teacher" Salary Incentives

   • PPS will create a new "Ace Teacher" status to recognize and reward the top 10% of district educators.

   • Ace Teachers will earn annual salaries of at least $100,000, funded directly by cutting unnecessary administrative roles, reducing redundant consultant contracts, and utilizing existing targeted state grants like the Student Investment Account (SIA).

2. Performance-Based Administrative Pay

   • Principal and administrator pay increases, or bonuses will now be directly linked to measurable teacher retention rates and student performance metrics.

   • PPS will publicly share these metrics to keep leadership accountable and aligned with classroom excellence.

5. What immediate actions will PPS take?

• Immediately adopt the PAR model district-wide through a formal PPS School Board resolution.

• Negotiate immediately to streamline dismissal procedures, ensuring ineffective teachers do not remain in classrooms beyond improvement deadlines.

• Launch the Ace Teacher program immediately, with transparent evaluation criteria to identify and reward excellent educators.

• Redirect funds currently wasted on ineffective administrative and consultant roles directly into teacher salaries and mentorship programs.

6. What's the timeline for implementation?

📅 Immediate (2025):

• Launch the PAR system across PPS schools and identify struggling teachers.

• Begin evaluations for the first Ace Teacher cohort and allocate redirected funding for increased pay.

• Publicly announce performance-based pay metrics for administrators.

📅 Short-term (2026):

• Conduct first dismissals for teachers who do not improve via PAR.

• Expand Ace Teacher cohort and mentorship network.

• Adjust principal evaluations based on teacher retention and student outcomes.

📅 Medium-term (2027 onward):

• Continue annual evaluations, Ace Teacher recognitions, and necessary dismissals.

• Provide ongoing public reports on outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and administrator accountability.

7. How will this benefit Portland students directly?

• Improved teaching quality across all PPS schools, ensuring students learn from effective and motivated educators.

• Increased teacher retention and morale, creating more consistent and supportive classrooms.

• Better accountability and transparency, giving families renewed trust in Portland's public education system.