Teacher Appreciation Week in Tennessee: Here's what to know about pay, bonuses, morale
As Teacher Appreciation Week gets underway nationwide, the topic of teacher pay is front of mind for many.
While a recent report showed teacher morale has improved in Tennessee, the need for more pay and adequate staffing for schools remains. Here's a quick rundown of what to know about teacher pay and teacher morale in Tennessee.
The National Education Association, the largest labor union in the United States, released a report in April that showed Tennessee teachers are making 4.7% less than they did a decade ago, adjusting for inflation. Tennessee ranked 38th in the nation for average teacher salary at $58,630. That mirrors the most current data available from the Tennessee Department of Education.
The state also ranks 29th in average teacher starting pay at $44,897, according to the National Education Association report. The state enacted a law in 2023 to raise minimum salaries for all teachers to $50,000 by 2026. The previous minimum was set at $35,000.
Teacher pay in Tennessee: How much do educators make in your district?
The Tennessee legislature passed a law in January that expanded the state's existing school voucher program, which offers taxpayer-funded vouchers for families to offset costs for private K-12 schooling. The hotly debated legislation, known as the Education Freedom Act, was backed by Gov. Bill Lee. He has long advocated for vouchers and what he hails as "school choice" for families.
The Education Freedom Act offers a one-time $2,000 bonus for every teacher in Tennessee. However, a last-minute amendment tacked onto the bill requires local school boards to adopt a resolution affirming they want to participate in the Education Freedom Act if they want the bonuses. If a district doesn't pass a resolution, its teachers will not receive the bonuses.
Districts have until June 1 to pass the resolutions. Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted said that the school board has not yet passed a resolution, but that he anticipates they will by the deadline. It's not clear if other districts have similar plans.
Education Freedom Scholarships: Tennessee lawmakers passed a $447M school voucher bill. Here's what it does.
Teacher morale is on the upswing in Tennessee and nationwide but the issues of understaffing and lagging pay persist, according to a report released in March.
The annual "State of Teaching" report measures how teachers feel about their profession through a national survey. It was launched in 2024 by Education Week, a nonprofit news organization that covers national K-12 education. This year's report also included state-by-state data on teacher morale.
Report: Tennessee teacher morale improves, but needs for more staff, pay remain
Tennessee and 23 other states saw a teacher morale index score that either matched or surpassed the national average. However, the report showed that Tennessee teachers said they need more staff support and more money for supplies and instructional resources. Some also said better pay was a priority for them.
Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Teacher Appreciation Week: What to know about pay, bonuses
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