Teacher appreciation starts with better pay, not gifts
The recent controversy over University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders's NFL draft slot serves as yet another disheartening illustration of our society's skewed priorities.
I find the excessive attention given to athletes during draft season distressing. While their athletic prowess and dedication are undeniable, the intense scrutiny and financial stakes surrounding their professional entry starkly contrasts with the often underappreciated and undercompensated individuals shaping the future of our children: teachers.
While teacher starting salaries will probably never match the $840,000 minimum an NFL rookie commands, prioritizing higher wages is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.
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What if we approached the recruitment of educators with even a fraction of the fervor we dedicate to the scouting of athletes? What if we had a national teacher draft?
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Consider the ripple effect.
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Imagine how much better our public school systems would be if we treated teachers like elite athletes. What if we valued education enough to spend the money developing and recruiting young adults into the field, and then providing competitive training camps for them to improve their skills?
No longer would an aspiring teacher hear: 'Don't go into teaching, you won't make much money.'
An educator draft may seem fantastical, yet it underscores a fundamental financial truth: We don't invest well enough in our teachers and their support staff.
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This week we observe National Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs until May 9. Google it and you'll find various corporate deals and discounts for educators. Teachers can enter a contest to win a free burrito; get 20 percent off a smoothie; or be treated to a $1.99 double cheeseburger.
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Whoopee!
Think about this financial imbalance.
Even though more school districts are lifting starting wages, the national average salary for new teachers in 2023-2024 was only $46,526, according to the National Education Association's annual report on educator pay. This fact from the NEA is sobering: Just 30 percent of school districts pay new teachers a starting salary of at least $50,000.
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If you look at the overall average salary, you might be more inclined to think the pay is adequate: The average classroom teacher salary is $72,030. However, that average is skewed by higher-paying states, ranging from highs of $101,084 in California and $95,615 in New York to lows of $53,704 in Mississippi and $54,875 in Florida.
We also need to consider the effects of inflation. The average inflation-adjusted salary of classroom teachers has decreased by an estimated 5.1 percent from 2015-2016 to 2024-2025, the report said, while the average salary for instructional staff has fallen by an estimated 5.6 percent.
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In a deeper dive of the financial challenges teachers face, the NEA found that almost 2 in 5 educators have a second job, and a majority — 77 percent — used their own funds for student needs in the 2023-2024 academic year.
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I have previously written about how my daughter, now a third-year teacher at an elementary school, spends a lot of her money buying supplies for her classroom. A reader challenged this norm, arguing: 'When teachers accept this financial responsibility, it releases school districts from adequately funding education. It creates an opportunity divide between students whose teachers are willing to pick up the tab for classroom supplies and those whose teachers can't or won't spend their limited salaries to do so.'
But this raises a critical question: What happens when adequate funding is absent?
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Faced with this reality, educators who have the means — and those who don't — often feel compelled to prioritize the students' needs over the principle of not using personal funds.
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The NEA report also highlights that 'low pay limits the ability to attract and retain quality educators in the profession amid a looming educator shortage and sagging educator morale.'
The pipeline problem often forces schools to fill vacancies with long-term substitute teachers because they are unable to find qualified educators. The shortage impacts current staff, emotionally and physically taxing teachers who are asked to teach more students with fewer resources.
That stress is borne out in surveys. Here's what the Pew Research Center reported in spring 2024, when it asked public K-12 teachers about their job satisfaction: 77 percent said their job is frequently stressful, and 52 percent said they would not advise a young person starting out today to become a teacher.
During one holiday season, I asked teachers what presents they would like if they were asked. Many said: Please, no more mugs.
Most said they would request needed supplies for their underfunded classrooms. One educator said she uses gift cards to restock comfort items for her students, such as tissues, snacks, sanitary napkins, lotion, hand sanitizer and other resource materials.
If I asked teachers this week what would make them feel appreciated, I expect many would share what one teacher messaged: 'I love teaching, but I do not love how our educational system is designed or how professionals are disrespected and underfunded. Our job is vital to the health and economy of the entire country, and often we are treated as an afterthought — certainly we are paid as though we are less than.'
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