ADVANCED DEGREES
Teachers and school staff are the
greatest resource to ensuring that
students receive a great education.
And, having a highly trained teacher,
makes that resource even better.
Nixa Public Schools has seen a high
percentage of its teachers obtaining advanced
degrees. Compared to the 58.4%
of teachers in the state of Missouri with a
masters degree or higher, the percentage
of these in Nixa is 64.3%.
When educators obtain a more advanced
degree, they stand out. This extra
education makes teachers experts in their
fi eld and transitions into a better learning
experience for their students. “Having
highly-qualifi ed and highly-educated
teachers in our district is the foundation
for supporting and improving children’s
educational outcomes, especially our
highest need children,” said Josh Chastain,
Executive Director of Digital and Professional
Learning for Nixa Public Schools.
When a teacher achieves a masters degree
or higher, they demonstrate a commitment
to their profession and a deeper
understanding of their studies. When this
happens, the feelings of self-satisfaction
in teachers increases as they’re able to
watch their students grow and succeed as
a result of their hard work and investment
in their degree. By earning more than a
bachelor’s degree, Nixa teachers show
their determination to make a real diff erence
in their students’ lives.
Not only does obtaining a masters degree
or higher benefi t students, it benefi ts
the teachers who obtained that degree in
more ways than having increased knowledge.
When teachers pursue a higher
degree and invest additional years of
pursuing an educaton beyond a bachelor’s
degree, they make themselves
more available to better pay and better
opportunities for leadership. As a school
district, Nixa makes sure this happens.
“When teachers that are highly-qualifi ed
and highly-educated, we are able to support
their graduate degrees with higher
pay on our salary schedule
as well,” said Chastain.
This higher pay
refl ects the teachers’
higher value to the district, showing them
that their hard work has not gone unnoticed.
When teachers receive higher pay for all
the eff ort they put into teaching students,
it helps with retention. In Nixa, the district
acknowledges all that their teachers
have done in achieving their higher-level
degrees and wants them to stay in order
to help direct the future growth of Nixa
schools. “With a teacher shortage looming
in the near future, we need to do all we
can to keep and attract these educators to
continue our high level of education that
we provide here in Nixa,” said Chastain.
With such a high percentage of teachers
in the school district having a masters
degree or higher, it’s no surprise that retention
matters a great deal to the Nixa
school district. Not only is Nixa’s percentage
above the state of Missouri’s, it’s also a
leader in the surrounding area. With Nixa
being at 64.3%, other districts such as
Ozark, Republic, and Willard sit at 48.8%,
55.1%, and 59%, respectively. This demonstrates
that not only is Nixa a leader
statewide, but also in its local community.
Whether they’re being compared to
teachers in other school districts or in the
state, the educators in Nixa Public Schools
have shown a dedication to their education
and their profession. The teachers
here who have obtained these upper-level
degrees have committed to fi nding new
ways of educating and applying academic
information to the students who learn
from them, going above and beyond inside
and outside of the classroom. By pursuing
even higher education, the teachers
here in Nixa have benefi tted themselves,
their students, and the district they work
in. With their continued help and teaching,
Nixa will continue to prosper, lead,
and stand out as a school district.
SPRING 2019 THE NEST NIXA PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAGAZINE 3