Unpopular opinion: DCPS teachers are super well paid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the repeated references to the high cost of living. Students' families--including the posters here--experience the same cost of living.

This! And many of us make less than DCPS teachers.

I don’t understand these arguments. Is it woe is me I make so little no one else should make more than me? Like why shouldn’t we want everyone to be well compensated?

My reading of the beginning of the thread was pushback against the DCUM idea that we should be giving teachers lots of monetary "thank you" gifts because they make so little. I'm a professional who makes a salary within (not at the very top or bottom) of the DCPS pay scales listed here, and before reading DCUM I thought that it was inappropriate to give professionals and public sector employees gifts over $20. This thread is all "$5 gift card!" but if you read the "what do you give teachers?" threads its never $5, it's like $50-100. If we are supposed to give teachers sums like that because they "make so little," you assume parents make much more, and many of us don't.

I'd be happy if middle class socially beneficial jobs like teaching made more! It's a hard job that is foundational to every community! I just can't make up the difference out of my own pocket, and think heartfelt cards from parents/kids and classroom supply contributions should be enough.

Teachers do not expect gifts of that amount and my wife has never gotten anywhere near that amount - nor does she care!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.
By

This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.

That’s it 🙂

Yup. I have 20 years experience and am in a senior role at my large nonprofit and make $126. We have had some lovely, lovely teachers and assistants when my kids were at a title 1 elementary, and I was generous with the gifts. But I no longer go overboard or give gifts to individual teachers in middle and hs. They are professionals!

A 20 year teacher with a masters makes 112. https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/WTU%20FY20-FY23.pdf

I don't think I can put into words how maddening this thread is

How much do you think that other nonprofit professionals with 20 years of experience and a master's make, and who have similar benefits (except for the summar breaks, week at Christmas and Easter)? Who also have huge drawbacks in their work (which are hard to describe, relatively, because most of us can imagine what it's like to be in a classroom)?

The non profit professionals with 20 years of experience I know get tons of vacation and sick time and work from home 80% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.


This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.


That’s it 🙂

Ummmmm…that’s an inflated average and it includes benefits. They start at 60. Highest is about 130 but that’s after 25+ years

[Anonymous]

There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Teacher union gave up tenure years ago. So bad teachers CAN be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just got our school budget. Our librarian makes $140k. Most teachers make about $130k and they work for 9 months per year and they get a pension.
I am happy for them but people have to stop with pressuring parents to give them gift cards, valentine presents and all the talk about them not being well paid.


This is not valid in other states. I am just talking about DCPS and probably DC metro and other big cities.

That’s it 🙂

The cap on the pay is 133k, no teacher makes 140k base salary. 33% of teachers receive the 10k bonus only 17% take it because of the pitfalls. Also, DC has some of the highest wages in the United States, that includes your job. We also are in the top 3 in cost of living. Teachers work 10 months out of the year, we have PDs and the like to attend. To add not all teacher work 10 some are 11, 12, or work summer school.
Administrators can make over 200k and up to 40k in bonuses, but you are bringing teacher’s salaries to the forefront only? Odd.

No one wants your lame gift, we would like a better evaluation system that is not racist, ableist, or punitive. We would like more supports for our students. We would like better facilities that are in working order.

You could have made this conversation productive but instead you came with a facetious and incorrect take. If there is a teacher complaining about not getting gifts, give them grace within reason. They are likely stressed or maybe they are so incredibly blessed to be at a supportive school, with a wonderful school community. But given your take, I doubt it’s the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Are teachers truly to blame for all the problems of the school system?

Do we blame doctors when patients are diagnosed with cancer? Do we blame accountants for our bad financial decisions?

Yet we blame teachers when a neglected child cannot read on grade level.

Huh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Are teachers truly to blame for all the problems of the school system?

Do we blame doctors when patients are diagnosed with cancer? Do we blame accountants for our bad financial decisions?

Yet we blame teachers when a neglected child cannot read on grade level.

Huh.

Idk why there is such contempt from some.

I think it’s like blaming doctors who don’t cure the cancer or put it in remission.
Does anyone look at the truancy and tardy data? Class sizes? Supports at the schools?
I’ve had students miss 80 days of school and I was forced to move them to the next grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Teacher union gave up tenure years ago. So bad teachers CAN be fired.

But it still doesn't happen. I'm not sure what the barrier is, but it seems principals are still unable to let go of people once they are at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Teacher union gave up tenure years ago. So bad teachers CAN be fired.

But it still doesn't happen. I'm not sure what the barrier is, but it seems principals are still unable to let go of people once they are at the school.

It’s not that they can’t get rid of them, it’s that there’s no one to fill their spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC pays way better than surrounding schools, but it still wasn’t enough to keep me there. No amount could. The lack of accountability for student behaviors (yes, even in Ward 3) and the disgusting pressure of the IMPACT system even for a “highly effective” teacher drove me and so many others out

The worst is when you realize the students behave this way because their parents behave this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Are teachers truly to blame for all the problems of the school system?

Do we blame doctors when patients are diagnosed with cancer? Do we blame accountants for our bad financial decisions?

Yet we blame teachers when a neglected child cannot read on grade level.

Huh.

Ok well if teachers make no difference then you should be paid accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Are teachers truly to blame for all the problems of the school system?

Do we blame doctors when patients are diagnosed with cancer? Do we blame accountants for our bad financial decisions?

Yet we blame teachers when a neglected child cannot read on grade level.

Huh.

Ok well if teachers make no difference then you should be paid accordingly.

Bingo. My kids aren’t neglected, attend school every day, and as far as I can tell they’re learning just a notch above nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

Are teachers truly to blame for all the problems of the school system?

Do we blame doctors when patients are diagnosed with cancer? Do we blame accountants for our bad financial decisions?

Yet we blame teachers when a neglected child cannot read on grade level.

Huh.

Ok well if teachers make no difference then you should be paid accordingly.

If doctors can’t keep me from getting cancer, they shouldn’t be paid well.

If my accountant can’t keep me from blowing a ton of money at a blackjack table, they shouldn’t be paid well.

See how this works? We expect teachers to correct society’s ills. It’s ridiculous, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s also the question of what the public gets in exchange for these fat salaries, benefits, etc. The majority of public schools in DC are really terrible.

You can’t put that on teachers. Sure, there are some bad ones, but there is so
much more to the story. You could fill every teaching job with stellar teachers, and you’d still have a massive problem in the schools. Teachers earn every penny they make.