The Recovery School District (RSD) in New Orleans recently launched a national media campaign to recruit up to 500 teachers that it will need when school starts in September. The six-week "Why You Teach" campaign was developed by a local advertising firm and is financed through $400,000 in federal "restart money."

The RSD's Relocation Incentive Package offers out-of-state certified teachers up to $2,500 to pack up and move to New Orleans, a housing subsidy of $400 monthly for the first year of teaching, and $5,000 at the end of years one and two. The incentive package, altogether worth up to an extra $17,300, is significant considering the starting pay for a first year certified teacher is $36,900.