McCollum's article, How Merit Pay Improves Education, covered the history of merit pay, Georgia's plans for merit pay and how the plan worked at W.C. Abney Elementary School, where she was Leadership Team Facilitator. She now holds that same position at C.A. Roberts Elementary School in Dallas. McCollum was a student in UWG's professional seminar class, the last course that graduate students complete for the Education Specialist degree in Early Childhood Education. While enrolled in this course, students develop articles that are deemed publishable. McCollum's article will now take its place among other professional works intended for leaders in education.
Merit pay is a current trend that rewards teachers who meet measurable goals in student progress.
McCollum pointed out in her article that some merit plans appeared in the early 1900's, but they soon disappeared as early as the 1930's. She noted that the rewards of salary increases to teachers for the success of their students has had sporadic support throughout the years.