Mike Tinney Board Member | Oklahoma Department of Education
Oklahoma's initiative to enhance teacher recognition and compensation has seen significant growth, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). The Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP), a merit-based pay initiative aimed at recognizing outstanding teachers, has experienced a 409% increase in participation for Fiscal Year 2025. The program has expanded from 15 districts in 2023-2024 to 74 districts this year, encompassing over 920 educators who are recognized as advanced, lead, or master teachers.
State Superintendent Walters commented on the program's modern approach. “This is what modern education should look like: high standards, real accountability, and meaningful rewards for great teaching,” he stated. Walters emphasized the program's alignment with free-market principles, which he said help retain top educators and attract new talent to Oklahoma.
Legislative support has been crucial to OTEP’s expansion. Senator Adam Pugh, who authored the legislation, expressed his commitment to recognizing exceptional teachers. “In addition to pursuing policies this session to improve education outcomes and reward teachers, I have made it a priority this session to highlight the outstanding work of our teachers by recognizing the positive impact they are making,” Pugh stated. The senator highlighted efforts such as acknowledging exceptional teachers before each education committee meeting.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert noted the program's alignment with conservative values. “OTEP reflects the conservative principle that incentives drive outcomes,” he said. According to Hilbert, introducing free-market accountability into the educational system has resulted in retaining excellent teachers, boosting student achievement, and improving the overall system.
For the current fiscal year, OTEP has granted $5.72 million in salary increases to high-performing teachers. There has been a notable increase in participation, with 58 additional districts and 739 more teachers compared to the previous fiscal year. About 87% of the districts involved in 2023-2024 continued their participation.
The OTEP framework provides opportunities for educators to advance professionally while being financially rewarded for their contributions in the classroom. The state pledges continued investment in its educators to ensure all Oklahoma students experience quality instruction from committed teachers.
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