The School Board of Broward County, Florida and the Broward Teachers Union (BTU) have reached a tentative agreement for the 2012/13 school year.
"It's been a long time coming for our teachers," said Sharon Glickman.
Glickman, one of about 9,000 teachers in Broward County, said she had waited four long years to hear she had gotten a raise.
"We are able to move forward in a positive direction for this school year despite our limited financial resources," said Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie.
The average pay hike will be about 2 percent a year, costing the district about $8.5 million. Many teachers will also get a one time bonus this school year of about $500 each, costing the district another $3 million.
"While we do have an increase and the increase is important, we still have more work to do in terms of what we consider inequities and inadequacies in compensation," said Broward Teachers Union President John Tarka.
"Under the economic times, this is an acknowledgment that we work hard," said Glickman.
The new agreement follows a year of protests among students, parents and teachers. Cuts from the state trickled down to classrooms and teachers were not spared.
"We recognize there have been some challenges in the district in the past few years," said Runcie.
The agreement between Broward Public Schools and the BTU must still be finalized. Teachers won't see their new raise until January 2013 if it is.