[richardc1947]

I’m not sure where you are getting your statistics from, but Florida entry level teachers salaries are more than 35 other states. See link below

Teacher Salary Benchmarks | NEA

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

"How Much Teachers Make in Florida

Preschool teacher: $29,890
Kindergarten teacher: $59,040
Elementary school teacher: $61,510
Middle school teacher: $60,280
High school teacher: $64,120"

"How Much Teachers Make in New York

Preschool teacher: $43,880
Kindergarten teacher: $84,530
Elementary school teacher: $87,700
Middle school teacher: $94,690
High school teacher: $92,660"

From: How Much Teachers Make in Every State 2021 | GOBankingRates

From your article, here are the nation-wide figures, which are much more in line with Florida’s, though Florida’s are still very low. “The average pay for a preschool teacher in the United States is $36,460. For a kindergarten teacher, the salary is higher at $64,490 a year, with a high school teacher earning an average of $69,530. Pay for elementary and middle school teachers falls somewhere between those two at $67,080 and $66,880, respectively.”

I’d like to make a couple points. First, a large proportion of the New York teachers work in the New York City area, where the cost of living is much higher than in Florida. The average cost to rent a one bedroom apartment there is about $3,500 a month. That’s $42,000 a year. It’s not easy to find even an apartment to buy for under $1 million, and then taxes on that house are very high.

Second, I don’t know about New York and Florida, but in Pennsylvania, where I spent half my life, teacher salaries are set by the school board in each school district and based on income from school taxes. Districts with lots of new, expensive homes have a lot more money to give to the teachers. In Pennsylvania, one district might pay top teachers $70,000 a year while the district next door might have a top pay of $45,000 a year. New York has a lot areas where there are expensive homes and flush school districts.

Third, average incomes can be deceptive. I’d like to know starting salaries and top salaries as well. Some states have higher starting salaries and lower top salaries, and that is very helpful for new teachers. In Pennsylvania and New York, in addition to whatever raises teachers get due to inflation, salaries start low, but there is a fixed percentage rise as well. Eventually, with enough years of service, the salary is pretty good in many districts. Teachers who have taken post-certification classes or have earned graduate degrees get more. In any state, if there are relatively few teachers near the top of the pay scale because of retirements and lots of teachers starting their career, the numbers will shift. Some states provide incentives for teachers to retire early because beginning teachers are so much cheaper.

(In state universities, full professors earn 20% more at their top salary than do associate professors at their top salary with the same number of years at that school, but very few teachers are able to jump through all the hoops and become full professors. Where I taught, only about 10% eventually were promoted to full professor. The top salary for associate professors with a Ph.D. and 30 years of experience is about the same as the salary of high school teachers with only a bachelor’s degree and the same experience. The top salary of associate professors is 20% higher than the top salary of assistant professors, who also have Ph.D.s. The top salary of assistant professors is in turn 20% higher than the top salary of instructors, who don’t have Ph.D.s. Any of these ranks hit their top salary in about ten years, but unless they are promoted—which is difficult—they are stuck, unlike grade school and high school teachers. Thus, an assistant professor with 20 years’ experience may make much less than a high school teacher with the same years of service.)

As for problems in schools, I say BLAME PARENTS, NOT TEACHERS. Yes, in every class of education graduates, some will be top students and some will barely make it through. Some will have the hearts of teachers and some will not. But every one of those teachers will do a better job if given respectful students who want to learn. It’s up to parents to provide those students. If they don’t, how can they expect their students to succeed? The sad fact is, Garbage In, Garbage Out. The exceptions happen often, but they are almost like miracles. Teachers keep trying, generally, but the life of a teacher can be disheartening.

[bluecenturian]

Cops are getting paid less than that and I bet you need them more.

[Romad]

According to the school board candidates, the starting salary in Sumter is $51,000.

[Lindsyburnsy]

Originally Posted by jebartle

New York highest teacher salary average $90,000+....

Earlier thread, I mentioned that our values are "out of whack", how can our state, not be ashamed, paying a profession that is so important to our future such a pathetic amount to our teachers.

Please, for those asking me to leave if I don't like it, I suggest we fix this problem by cutting our legislators salaries until it's fixed.

The starting salary is even lower. Teachers are also having to purchase supplies throughout the year with their own money. Now they are being told what they can teach, say and read. My friend a teacher, has to purchase her own desk chair and portable AC unit. Imagine going to work and having to endure shooter drills and being responsible for a room full of kids. Why the heck would anybody want to be a teacher?

[TheWarriors]

It would be great if the NEA was as concerned about Teacher performance and student outcomes as they are about extreme political viewpoints and salaries. Most in the teaching profession would be completely surprised. I would gladly pay additional taxes for a school system that taught the 3 r’s instead of CRT, LGBTQxyz, and other lifestyle choices.

Would also be refreshing to hear the NEA actually admit 2 parent families matter, drug addicts need to be dealt with in much different ways and parents that can’t raise one child should be spayed or neutered like we do to animals that don’t have the ability to make conscientious decisions.

Seems things went to hell when some said any part of having God mentioned, or expecting higher morals was wrong. Maybe we should start expecting more from all members of our society and the majority of problems would disappear and salaries would increase.

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by jebartle

New York highest teacher salary average $90,000+....

Earlier thread, I mentioned that our values are "out of whack", how can our state, not be ashamed, paying a profession that is so important to our future such a pathetic amount to our teachers.

Please, for those asking me to leave if I don't like it, I suggest we fix this problem by cutting our legislators salaries until it's fixed.

I'm not sure you get it. You are in the "south" every state has different economics. You pick on the teacher salaries. it's everything so get off your soapbox. and yes if you don't like it.... you know that one.

Here's the deal I don't care what you do the standard salary in a lot of these southern states is lower than the northern states especially if you are going to use NY, Chicago, etc. which by far isn't a fair comparison at all . In addition, this is a tourist state which also changes the economics.

People have the freedom to do whatever job they want to do, and get paid accordingly to the economics of the job within the area it is in. Personally I can tell you that if I left my job for a local one I would take a 45% hit in pay. and that would be going into an executive job.

It's real easy to peel one off the top and whine about it, but your approach takes nothing into account that should be.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by bluecenturian

Cops are getting paid less than that and I bet you need them more.

You are right! According to this, the average State Trooper salary in Florida is $41,007.

Just a moment...

However, the average police salary in Florida is $60,720.

Here’s How Much Money Police Officers Earn In Every State

Please note that teachers get summers off and lots of vacation during the year. The average teacher works 185 days a year while the average full time non-teacher works 245 days a year.

Florida averages 180 instructional days per year. There are variances based on school district but they’re generally small. Teachers work an extra of five days beyond the instructional calendar. The extra days are generally teacher workdays, time for continuing education, etc. So, how does that compare? The average fulltime employed person works 245 days, or 60 more than the average teacher, annually. It doesn’t quite work out to nine months, or 25% less work than the average non-teacher, but it’s close at 23% less time spent working. This does amount to an extra twelve weeks of work for the average Floridian compared to the average teacher further illustrating the disconnect.

Q&A of the Day – How many days per year do Florida’s teachers work? | 1290 WJNO.

[SusanStCatherine]

Much of Sumter County is located within The Villages, isn't it? We are taxed for schools. Check your tax bill. Compare to Marion and Lake counties. Tell me what you find.
Local revenue for school support is derived almost entirely from property taxes levied by Florida's 67 counties, each of which constitutes a school district. Each school board must levy the millage set for its required local effort from property taxes.

[Village valley girl]

I worked for a number of years both in NYC schools as well as the suburbs. Your statement needs correction. The Salary you quote for teachers in NYS varies Greatly throughout the state. NYC with some of the toughest districts pays some of the lowest salaries…$63k average, a far cry from your quote.…The other extreme are the Very Wealthy Suburbs of Bronxville, Bedford, Armonk who signed Rich contracts pushing up that average. Does that mean that charging $25,000 in school property taxes to pay High Teacher Salaries is the model we should advocate? Teachers deserve to be properly compensated, but we also need to look at results achieved, and NYS according to US News & World Report is paying some of the Highest and doesn’t come close to achieving the results…..;2131228]New York highest teacher salary average $90,000+....

Earlier thread, I mentioned that our values are "out of whack", how can our state, not be ashamed, paying a profession that is so important to our future such a pathetic amount to our teachers.

Please, for those asking me to leave if I don't like it, I suggest we fix this problem by cutting our legislators salaries until it's fixed.[/QUOTE]

[lpkruege1]

Originally Posted by jebartle

New York highest teacher salary average $90,000+....

Earlier thread, I mentioned that our values are "out of whack", how can our state, not be ashamed, paying a profession that is so important to our future such a pathetic amount to our teachers.

Please, for those asking me to leave if I don't like it, I suggest we fix this problem by cutting our legislators salaries until it's fixed.

Yes. We, can spend money on 87,000 new IRS agents, and nothing on school safety or actually improving education like school choice. Truly disgusting.

[reggiethurlow]

You are leaving out the fact that teachers only work 180 days, or could be 210 days maximum.

[jrandall]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

"How Much Teachers Make in Florida

Preschool teacher: $29,890
Kindergarten teacher: $59,040
Elementary school teacher: $61,510
Middle school teacher: $60,280
High school teacher: $64,120"

"How Much Teachers Make in New York

Preschool teacher: $43,880
Kindergarten teacher: $84,530
Elementary school teacher: $87,700
Middle school teacher: $94,690
High school teacher: $92,660"

From: How Much Teachers Make in Every State 2021 | GOBankingRates

The cost of living in New York us higher than Florida, although the Miami area is inching closer to NY. The property taxes are less and there is no State income tax. I think one really needs to compare apples to apples in this regard.

[Romad]

Instead of “averages,” better to use the actual schedule:

https://assets.sumter.k12.fl.us/huma...y-Schedule.pdf

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Originally Posted by jebartle

New York highest teacher salary average $90,000+....

Earlier thread, I mentioned that our values are "out of whack", how can our state, not be ashamed, paying a profession that is so important to our future such a pathetic amount to our teachers.

Please, for those asking me to leave if I don't like it, I suggest we fix this problem by cutting our legislators salaries until it's fixed.

Have you considered how much lower the cost of living is "down South?" Constantly raising teacher salaries leads to higher taxes which, wow, lead to increased teacher salaries. Comparing salaries between such extremes is apples to oranges. A more compelling argument for higher FL teacher salaries would be to compare them to comparable states (Texas, Tennessee, etc.) that have no income tax and lower taxes overall. They may still be lower, but a more accurate comparison could be made.