Facts about North Carolina and teacher salary

1.  North Carolina population ranks 10th in the nation with 9.5 million people

2.  Approximately 15.6% or 1.5 million people are students enrolled in K-12 in NC

3.  Average Salary for Teachers Nationwide $56,383 (National Center for Education Statistics)

4.  Average Salary for Teachers in North Carolina $45,947 (National Center for Education Statistics)

5.  Under the 2013-2014 pay scale a beginning teacher would not reach $40,000 until his/her 16th year of teaching

6.  North Carolina teacher pay currently ranks 46th in the nation, a -14.7% of change from 99-00 to 12-13 (National Center for Education Statistics)

7.  North Carolina represents the greatest decline in percent change than any other state from 99-00 to 12-13

 

The teaching profession does not end at 3pm or 4pm when the teacher leaves the school building or during the summer.  Teachers usually work hours beyond the school day by preparing lesson plans and among other related things grading student work.  Teachers often spend out of pocket to supply their classrooms with essential learning equipment including pencils, paper, posters, books among other things which can vary by subjects.

As a 5th year 6-9 Math/Science educator that earns $18.75 per hour I can honestly say that I never thought nor wanted to become rich when I decided to enter the teaching profession.  However, I thought I would be able to make an honest living in which I can enjoy my life with minimal stress when it came to finances, however the opposite of this is so true.  I'm limited to how much I can spend on groceries, if I can afford a vacation during the summer months and whether or not I can actually fill my car's gas tank every week.  All this being true and the fact that i'm single with no dependents at all and rent a 3-bedroom apartment at $450 per month.  My utilities (lights/water) rarely exceed $150 per month.  I'm in debt with over $50,000 in student loans and my current payment is $175.00 per month. I have a monthly car payment of $206.  All in consideration, I'm still struggling and my budget is very tight.  I can only imagine what a family that has dependents may be going through if I'm single and struggling. Serious considerations have been made to leave the profession altogether.

I petition the State of North Carolina to create a living salary that would ADJUST with inflation to ensure that it's teachers are adequately paid.  When teachers are not paid at a determined rate I propose that the state will subsequently supplement the expenses of the educator to a specific percent of his/her salary. 

My proposal to help attract and retain the best in the profession is to start beginning teachers at $40,000 base pay. 

 

(BEGINNING TEACHERS 1ST - 3RD YEAR)

+ Beginning teachers start at $40,000 and earn that amount for their first 3 years

+ When licensure/certification is renewed for Standard Professional 2 the fourth year, 5.5% of the starting pay of $40,000 should be earned up to his/her 10th year of teaching

          {A teacher that began at $40,000 would earn an additional $2,200 each year beginning in his or her 4th year and ending after his/her 10th year capping at $57,400}

+ Educators on this track would earn 2% of their 10-year cap pay of $57,400 each year after or $1,148 per year.

 

(EXPERIENCED 4TH YEAR  OR MORE)

Educators currently in the profession and that have more than 3 years experience should

          +  Be compensated at $46,000, (if not currently making this amount)

          +  Earn a 3% increase of their current salary until their 10th year

             {Example if he/she earns $42,500, he/she will earn $1,275 each year until the 10th year)

          + Each other year after the 10th year he/she would earn 3% of his/her 10th year salary

              {This increase would continue until the 30th year}

 

*Teachers that are currently above the 2013-2014 average of $45,933 by $1,067 should also be compensated too.  At a flat rate of 2.5% per year until retirement or at a comparable rate of teachers of the same experience across the state.

 

(SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME EDUCATORS)

If a teacher in the state earns less than $46,000 per year he or she should received subsidized living accomodations until he or she has reached the $46,000 platform.

 

                             ------[Renters/lessee of real estate property]------ 

Educators that earn less than $46,000 per year and are tenants of a rental property

        +Should be eligible to receive 25% of his/her salary to be applied to the rent including vital utilities such as electric and/or water bills.  This should be paid by allocated state funds not by the employee. 

           {Example:  Educator earns $45,000 per year, The educator net income is $31,500 after 30% taxes.  He/She nets $3,150/month, the state allocates $788/month towards the educator's rent and utilities)

If a teacher in the state earns less than $46,000 per year he or she should receive subsidized living accomodations until he or she has reached the $46,000 platform. 

                                       

                                          -----[Buyers of Real Estate]------

Educators that earn less than $46,000 per year and are currently in the process of buying real estate property

          + Should be eligible to receive 30% of his/her salary to be applied to the real estate payments excluding vital utilities such as electric and/or water bills.  This should be paid by allocated state funds not by the employee. 

           {Example:  Educator earns $45,000/year, the educator net income is $31,500 after 30% taxes, he/she nets $3,150/month, the state allocates $945/month towards his/her real estate payments) 

  --------------------------------------------------------or----------------------------------------------------

                                                                      Option 2

+ The educator is eligible to receive reduced property taxes at a rate at least 25% less than the standard rate of the area in which the educator lives in.  Local governments should be able to determine the rate, but the rate must be at least 25% less than the standard rate of the area.

 

I, we the educators of North Carolina are petitioning the State of North Carolina to make a sensible change in the salaries of it's educators.  The profession will struggle to gain full respect or prestige and will eventually begin to struggle to attract or retain professionals to this delicate and vital career.  The writing is on the walls North Carolina, 600 teahers in Wake County, the largest school district in the state, have terminated their employment and many more will soon follow if changes aren't made soon.  Personally, being $52,000 in student loan debt I can't afford to wait until 2020 for significant changes to occur.   

Sign the petition if you are an educator, if you are a student in K-12 or in college, if you are a parent, if you know someone who attends the public schools of North Carolina or if you once attended.  Sign the petition if you know a parent who has a child or children that attend any school in the State of North Carolina.  Sign the petition if you support or sympathize with the teachers of the State of North Carolina.  Sign the petition if you believe in the future leaders of tomorrow, our students, our children.

{None of the proposal should be set in stone but create an idea of which way educators should be paid or compensated for their services.  North Carolina is not the only state with low educator pay but North Carolina can serve as a model of change for other states to follow.}

 

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/finance/salary/​

http://www.wral.com/-alarming-wake-teacher-turnover-numbers-to-be-released-thursday/13576437/​

http://www.nea.org/home/rankings-and-estimates-2013-2014.html​

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_211.60.asp