What is Teach Greater New Orleans?

Salary & Benefits

Salary

Teach Greater New Orleansparticipants become salaried employees of their school district the first day they report to their school site in the fall. TGNO teachers are paid the same as all other beginning teachers in their parish according to their education level and experience.

Benefits

As employees of a district, TGNO members are eligible for the same benefits as all other teachers, including health insurance, retirement plans, vision and dental care, and other benefit options.

Loan Forgiveness

TGNO teachers with Perkins and Stafford loans MAY be eligible. In addition the House and Senate voted unanimously in October 2004 to increase loan forgiveness for math, science and special education teachers to $17,500.00. To be eligible teachers must teach for 5 consecutive years in a high need school district and be "highly qualified" as defined by No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. All TGNO teachers are highly qualified and teach in high needs school districts. For more information about this bill visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type HR5186 in the search field. You may also visit the following sites to determine your eligibility for other avenues to loan forgiveness.

Stafford Loans

www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/fshea.html

www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/repayment/teachers

www.lela.org/TeacherGuideline.htm

www.finaid.org/loans/forgiveness/phtml

www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students/repayment/teachers

www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide/1998-9/discharge.html

Homeowner Assistance

Louisiana offers certified teachers some assistance for purchasing a home by providing a 4% grant through the Teacher Homebuyer Program. Please visit http://www.lhfa.state.la.us/ to determine eligibility and availability.

Tax Relief

In the past, educators were given a $250 tax deduction for teaching supplies, even if they did not itemize their deductions. This deduction for teaching materials can benefit students and provide teachers with a reimbursement for the often high cost of obtaining supplies. Check with your tax consultant for current tax deductions for educators.

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