No child should be without a high-quality teacher and learning conditions that will support their academic journey. This happens when our School Board and District don't recognize the value of our teachers and the need to improve their working conditions. It is time for our experienced teachers to be compensated fairly, many of whom are barely making more than a new teacher. When teachers leave this profession, one of the top issues they report is that pay isn't enough. More and more has been added each year to teachers' plates while wage compression has increased dramatically.

The district has proposed a massive insurance cost increase of 64% overall. We should be looking at cost savings measures after these negotiations conclude instead of pushing such a huge increase on the backs of our educators. These increases proposed would hurt those with families the most. Our district shouldn't be proposing an insurance plan that is anti-family. We need to be able to recruit teachers, not drive them away.

The salaries of our teachers and education professionals have not kept pace with the cost of living in Central Florida. Our experienced teachers have not received a salary increase that reflects their years of service and the value they bring to our schools. It is time we let them know how much we value their service, knowledge, and commitment to our students by supporting a percentage increase. 

It is our students who will ultimately pay the price as more and more teachers are forced out of the classroom to make ends meet. Teacher vacancies in Florida have more than doubled in the past two years alone.

The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association is currently bargaining to make sure our teachers get the raises they need. In addition, we are working to improve working conditions by adding contract language that will ensure classrooms will have the proper temperature, will be clean, and needed repairs will be done and not overlooked. In addition, no student should be receiving services or counseling sessions in a storage room. Extended Wednesdays should be used only when necessary because teachers need time to plan. We proposed that those Wednesdays are only used when they are required by the state. We invite you to read the summary of our proposals and bargaining sessions at the link below. 

Our teachers can’t win this alone–they need the support of Orange County parents and the community. Help us keep our teachers! Help our teachers provide the schools students deserve! To show your support, add your name and your voice to our petition and share with friends!

Note: Donations to OCCTA are NOT being collected through this petition, and donations to Change.org are not required to participate.

To stay updated on the negotiations or to find out other ways you can help our teacher's efforts, please visit our website www.orangecta.com/ and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OCCTA7448. You can also show your support by attending School Board meetings wearing red. You may also email our Board members directly and let them know you support our teachers and their efforts. Their emails are below. Our Board has been supportive of teachers and students in the past and we need them now more than ever.

Teresa.Jacobs@ocps.net

Angie.Gallo@ocps.net

Maria.Salamanca@ocps.net

Alicia.Farrant@ocps.net

Pamela.Gould@ocps.net

Vicki.Felder@ocps.net

Karen.CastorDentel@ocps.net

Melissa.Byrd@ocps.net