Teacher salaries

[Anonymous]

Lol

I’m an 8th year teacher. I finally make the same money I made my first year out of college when I worked in IT.

Don’t get me wrong, summer is lovely, but during the year I’m at school from 7-5 every day. I have 30 minutes a day without kids or meetings (my lunch). Otherwise, since I’m teaching four separate math courses this year (plus a remediation block) I have team meetings every single period I don’t have students. After school I plan for 2 hours then run to pick up my son and do grading after he goes to bed.

Tomorrow is a snow day. I’ll spend half of it planning for my even day classes, because I only had odd day materials created/printed. Then I’ll go in early the following day to run copies, arrange activities, etc.

I love what I do, and I don’t do it in order to be rich, but please don’t belittle the workload. It’s not just teaching from a textbook anymore like it may have been when we were in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol

I’m an 8th year teacher. I finally make the same money I made my first year out of college when I worked in IT.

Don’t get me wrong, summer is lovely, but during the year I’m at school from 7-5 every day. I have 30 minutes a day without kids or meetings (my lunch). Otherwise, since I’m teaching four separate math courses this year (plus a remediation block) I have team meetings every single period I don’t have students. After school I plan for 2 hours then run to pick up my son and do grading after he goes to bed.

Tomorrow is a snow day. I’ll spend half of it planning for my even day classes, because I only had odd day materials created/printed. Then I’ll go in early the following day to run copies, arrange activities, etc.

I love what I do, and I don’t do it in order to be rich, but please don’t belittle the workload. It’s not just teaching from a textbook anymore like it may have been when we were in school.

100% this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you only teach 3 classes per day, you are a PT employee. I have 5 classes per day and one planning period of 45 mins and a 30 min lunch. I cannot plan for 5 classes each day and grade in 45 mins. It is not possible. The salaries in this area aren't as low as some other states but this area is $$$$. My kids qualified for reduced priced meals and free preschool the first few years I worked in this area.

No if you are on block scheduling that's a full time schedule. 3 classes of teaching, 1 of planning each day. A duty is also included on one of those A or B days so that day is 2 classes and 1 duty, and 1 planning. If you are on traditional scheduling still, you would teach 4-5 of those 6 blocks which is equal to us teaching 3/4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol

I’m an 8th year teacher. I finally make the same money I made my first year out of college when I worked in IT.

Don’t get me wrong, summer is lovely, but during the year I’m at school from 7-5 every day. I have 30 minutes a day without kids or meetings (my lunch). Otherwise, since I’m teaching four separate math courses this year (plus a remediation block) I have team meetings every single period I don’t have students. After school I plan for 2 hours then run to pick up my son and do grading after he goes to bed.

Tomorrow is a snow day. I’ll spend half of it planning for my even day classes, because I only had odd day materials created/printed. Then I’ll go in early the following day to run copies, arrange activities, etc.

I love what I do, and I don’t do it in order to be rich, but please don’t belittle the workload. It’s not just teaching from a textbook anymore like it may have been when we were in school.

Thank you. I love my job and I don't complain about the low salary, I knew that going in. But I get mad when people act like it's unreasonable to even suggest that teachers could get paid more or that our jobs are cake.

Imagine if, like a lawyer, I billed you every time you as a parent sent me some BS email that boils down to something you need to personally address with your kids, or if I could bill an hourly rate for every time a parent wanted to have a pointless meeting that comes down to me just saying "tell your kid to turn in the work."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you only teach 3 classes per day, you are a PT employee. I have 5 classes per day and one planning period of 45 mins and a 30 min lunch. I cannot plan for 5 classes each day and grade in 45 mins. It is not possible. The salaries in this area aren't as low as some other states but this area is $$$$. My kids qualified for reduced priced meals and free preschool the first few years I worked in this area.

No if you are on block scheduling that's a full time schedule. 3 classes of teaching, 1 of planning each day. A duty is also included on one of those A or B days so that day is 2 classes and 1 duty, and 1 planning. If you are on traditional scheduling still, you would teach 4-5 of those 6 blocks which is equal to us teaching 3/4.

I've never heard of any school with this scheduling. I teach math plus 4 math small groups, reading with 5 small reading groups, phonics with 5 small reading groups and well as science or social studies each day. Each one of those (including the small groups) requires a lesson plan. We have weekly lesson plan checks and they are included in our teacher duties which is part of our annual EOY evaluation. Plus two out of five planning periods is cooperative with either grade teams or content teams. A third planning can be used for IEP or SST meetings which means that some weeks, I get only two 45 min planning periods per week.

[Anonymous]

I’m happy with my salary and am embarrassed when I hear teachers complaining. No one forced them to become teachers. They knew there was limited salary potential when they became teachers. Teachers complaining should find another job. Anyone thinking teachers have it easy should become a teacher.

You are not correct that I have time to go in late or leave early. I’m after school every day with students and am often correcting papers, emailing parents, going to meetings or completing paperwork outside of work hours. People work late in many professions but please don’t say every teacher has part-time hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy with my salary and am embarrassed when I hear teachers complaining. No one forced them to become teachers. They knew there was limited salary potential when they became teachers. Teachers complaining should find another job. Anyone thinking teachers have it easy should become a teacher.

You are not correct that I have time to go in late or leave early. I’m after school every day with students and am often correcting papers, emailing parents, going to meetings or completing paperwork outside of work hours. People work late in many professions but please don’t say every teacher has part-time hours.

I’ve been a public school educator for almost 30 years, first as an elementary teacher and now a principal. I’m guessing that the complaining you’re hearing is not just about salary alone, but about the lack of respect. I mean, just look at this thread. It started from the cesspool known as Fairfax Underground that relishes in judging hardworking teachers by their salaries. Teaches are getting trashed left and right. All the teachers I know (and yeah, I know quite a lot) knew they were signing up for a less than stellar salary and hard work. What they did NOT sign up for was the disrespect and the assumption by others (not all) that they are lazy, just want summers off, are phoning it in, and doing something any idiot can do, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you only teach 3 classes per day, you are a PT employee. I have 5 classes per day and one planning period of 45 mins and a 30 min lunch. I cannot plan for 5 classes each day and grade in 45 mins. It is not possible. The salaries in this area aren't as low as some other states but this area is $$$$. My kids qualified for reduced priced meals and free preschool the first few years I worked in this area.

No if you are on block scheduling that's a full time schedule. 3 classes of teaching, 1 of planning each day. A duty is also included on one of those A or B days so that day is 2 classes and 1 duty, and 1 planning. If you are on traditional scheduling still, you would teach 4-5 of those 6 blocks which is equal to us teaching 3/4.

I've never heard of any school with this scheduling. I teach math plus 4 math small groups, reading with 5 small reading groups, phonics with 5 small reading groups and well as science or social studies each day. Each one of those (including the small groups) requires a lesson plan. We have weekly lesson plan checks and they are included in our teacher duties which is part of our annual EOY evaluation. Plus two out of five planning periods is cooperative with either grade teams or content teams. A third planning can be used for IEP or SST meetings which means that some weeks, I get only two 45 min planning periods per week.

Every MS and HS I know of in FCPS follows block scheduling. I don’t know them all, tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Underground has FCPS salaries listed.
Quite a few make 75k+. How is this a bad salary? They teach 3 periods and have a planning period (many teacher friends leave early or go in late - many principals allow such) 180 days a year? I know IT project managers who make the same (with 8 years experience) and work 9-630 with only 2 weeks vacation . I think Ryan and the others in Richmond need to stop acting so entitled. If you don’t want to teach, please quit. I’ll gladly take the career switcher program and take your job. And teachers don’t have shutdowns, yearly RIFs, and staying late as part of the culture.

Nonsensical.

The starting salaries are in the 50-58 range in Alexandria and Arlington. It takes years, normally a decade or more, to get to the mid 70s. The employee benefits have become high/cost and the pension is fully contributory. The actual work day during the school years is easily 9 hours a day. I know hundreds of teachers and I know not one who has a regular course schedule of nothing more than three (3) classes per day. The actual teacher workday year is more than 180 and actually over 190 in every NoVa locality. OP, your post is untrue.

I really don't think $50-58K is a bad starting salary. And yes, everyone knows how much time teachers put in outside of class and their school day - we hear it all the time. But the fact remains, they still get a lot of benefits like frequent days off, spring break, long summer break, and a schedule that generally matches their kids' school schedules so they can be home more easily when their kids are home, plus maternity leave for the women, plus sick leave.

The primary issue in Richmond isn't the starting salaries in northern virginia. Take a look at the rest of the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you only teach 3 classes per day, you are a PT employee. I have 5 classes per day and one planning period of 45 mins and a 30 min lunch. I cannot plan for 5 classes each day and grade in 45 mins. It is not possible. The salaries in this area aren't as low as some other states but this area is $$$$. My kids qualified for reduced priced meals and free preschool the first few years I worked in this area.

No if you are on block scheduling that's a full time schedule. 3 classes of teaching, 1 of planning each day. A duty is also included on one of those A or B days so that day is 2 classes and 1 duty, and 1 planning. If you are on traditional scheduling still, you would teach 4-5 of those 6 blocks which is equal to us teaching 3/4.

I've never heard of any school with this scheduling. I teach math plus 4 math small groups, reading with 5 small reading groups, phonics with 5 small reading groups and well as science or social studies each day. Each one of those (including the small groups) requires a lesson plan. We have weekly lesson plan checks and they are included in our teacher duties which is part of our annual EOY evaluation. Plus two out of five planning periods is cooperative with either grade teams or content teams. A third planning can be used for IEP or SST meetings which means that some weeks, I get only two 45 min planning periods per week.

You've never heard of block scheduling? Okey doke. Where do you teach,1981?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m just highlighting the BS that they cry about way too often. I know MANY teachers. I know not one who stays more than 30 minutes past their contract time. My pint is that they should consider other employment if they do not like their salary and benefits.

That’s because they are planning and grading late in the evening after their kids go to bed and on the weekends. I’m in IT consulting and my mom was a teacher. My job is way easier.

When I am running late, it’s not a big deal. I don’t have 20+ people waiting for me.
When I need a break between meetings I can take one.
If I am sick, I can work from home.
When I am out I don’t have to find a sub and plan their work for them.!
I can take my vacation and make my Dr appt when I want, within reason.
I can take a long lunch if I want.
I can go to another company without losing the benefits of my tenure and experience.
And about a million other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Underground has FCPS salaries listed.
Quite a few make 75k+. How is this a bad salary? They teach 3 periods and have a planning period (many teacher friends leave early or go in late - many principals allow such) 180 days a year? I know IT project managers who make the same (with 8 years experience) and work 9-630 with only 2 weeks vacation . I think Ryan and the others in Richmond need to stop acting so entitled. If you don’t want to teach, please quit. I’ll gladly take the career switcher program and take your job. And teachers don’t have shutdowns, yearly RIFs, and staying late as part of the culture.

Nonsensical.

The starting salaries are in the 50-58 range in Alexandria and Arlington. It takes years, normally a decade or more, to get to the mid 70s. The employee benefits have become high/cost and the pension is fully contributory. The actual work day during the school years is easily 9 hours a day. I know hundreds of teachers and I know not one who has a regular course schedule of nothing more than three (3) classes per day. The actual teacher workday year is more than 180 and actually over 190 in every NoVa locality. OP, your post is untrue.

I really don't think $50-58K is a bad starting salary. And yes, everyone knows how much time teachers put in outside of class and their school day - we hear it all the time. But the fact remains, they still get a lot of benefits like frequent days off, spring break, long summer break, and a schedule that generally matches their kids' school schedules so they can be home more easily when their kids are home, plus maternity leave for the women, plus sick leave.

The primary issue in Richmond isn't the starting salaries in northern virginia. Take a look at the rest of the state.

You do realize that the vast majority of teachers are working on those days off and over breaks? They are grading and planning classes on the snow days. They are grading throughout the school year, yes even over breaks. If they are not grading they spend some time planning for the up coming months. I am not saying that they are working 24/7 but the idea that they have all these days off is a bit silly. Most of the teachers I know are using that time to get caught up and maybe, just maybe, get a little bit ahead so they don't have to do as much work when school resumes.

[Anonymous]

It’s not the pay I have an issue with—it’s the working conditions and amount of parenting I’m expected to do.

[Anonymous]

Exactly PP. Gone are the days kids step through the doors ready to learn. You know it's bad when you have 4 and 5 year olds swearing at you and when you call home about behavior, parents either don't answer or call back or they tell you it's your problem while he/she is at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you only teach 3 classes per day, you are a PT employee. I have 5 classes per day and one planning period of 45 mins and a 30 min lunch. I cannot plan for 5 classes each day and grade in 45 mins. It is not possible. The salaries in this area aren't as low as some other states but this area is $$$$. My kids qualified for reduced priced meals and free preschool the first few years I worked in this area.

No if you are on block scheduling that's a full time schedule. 3 classes of teaching, 1 of planning each day. A duty is also included on one of those A or B days so that day is 2 classes and 1 duty, and 1 planning. If you are on traditional scheduling still, you would teach 4-5 of those 6 blocks which is equal to us teaching 3/4.

I've never heard of any school with this scheduling. I teach math plus 4 math small groups, reading with 5 small reading groups, phonics with 5 small reading groups and well as science or social studies each day. Each one of those (including the small groups) requires a lesson plan. We have weekly lesson plan checks and they are included in our teacher duties which is part of our annual EOY evaluation. Plus two out of five planning periods is cooperative with either grade teams or content teams. A third planning can be used for IEP or SST meetings which means that some weeks, I get only two 45 min planning periods per week.

You've never heard of block scheduling? Okey doke. Where do you teach,1981?

I teach in ES. No block scheduling there. My son's middle and high school didn't/doesn't have block scheduling. They have 7 periods per day every day.