HISD to teachers: Give us ideas, we'll give you money

In its quest for classroom innovation, HISD is finally asking the people who should be able to come up with the best ideas: The district is asking teachers to submit proposals for instructional strategies, and it's offering money as a reward.

[HISD superintendent Abelardo Saavedra asked that teachers submit formal proposals, which would be tried as pilot projects during the next school year.

"Our teachers are in the classroom every day working with children," Saavedra said. "We want to collect the very best ideas from our teachers and then spread those ideas throughout the school district to help children everywhere."

All HISD teachers were asked April 18 to submit their ideas, which are due May 12. A committee of teachers and administrators will review the ideas and pick up to 10 to use during the 2006-07 school year. The winning proposals will be announced May 29, and they could net the teachers who created them thousands of dollars in bonuses.