Teachers; provide $2,000 annual salary supplement to those employed in designated geographically critical teacher shortage area.

HB 1255 would provide a $2,000 annual salary supplement to licensed teachers working in Mississippi public schools located in areas designated by the State Board of Education as having critical teacher shortages. This supplement would be added to base salaries starting with the 2026-2027 school year and would not affect teachers already receiving separate supplements for National Board Certification. The bill ensures teachers eligible for existing certification-based supplements could still receive both the $2,000 geographic supplement and their current certification bonus. It does not change base salary schedules but adds this targeted incentive to attract and retain educators in underserved school districts.