Unpopular opinion: DCPS teachers are super well paid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people go into teaching straight out if school and many have limited experience in other fields unless they leave teaching. So I think sometimes teachers don't understand what it's like in other fields. It's easy to idealize other people's jobs. Obviously people also idealize aspects of teaching.

Most jobs have really frustrating, annoying things about them. I've never had a job I love, I'm middle aged. I've also never made more than 105k despite spending my whole career in the DMV.

Do you consider yourself “super well paid”? The discussion is about whether teacher are super well paid. People keep pointing out other professions that make similar amounts. Do we think of those professions as super well paid?

I will also point out that it seems you have worked many places. The high salaries that people are talking about, which are similar to yours, are for people who have been in the organization for 20 years. Not people like you who jumped around.

The point is that DCPS teachers are well paid for teachers. Yes, also cost of living is higher. But as someone who also lives in DC on a salary similar to a teacher's, it's still a good salary for a profession not known for competitive wages.

Also, I don't currently make my peak salary. I took a huge pay cut 5 years ago in order to move into a flexible role because I became a mom and wanted/needed more WFH and a less rigid schedule. I now make 65k a year, despite being a 20 year veteran in my field, because I wanted a different work-life balance. And before you say "well your spouse must be a corporate attorney or something" -- nope. My spouse works in public interest (and has long hours and a lot of stress) and currently makes 110k, which is less than the 116k a teacher with 10+ years experience and a master's will make at a title 1 in DC. I don't begrudge the teacher the 116k! They earn it. But all jobs have trade offs. Neither my DH nor I have a pension. Taking less pay has enabled me to be able to take time off (without pay) during school breaks, but if I was in my previous position, we'd be scrambling every single break for childcare, on salaries that don't easily pay for childcare in this area.

So yes, teachers in DCPS are well paid compared to the average pay in their profession.

[Anonymous]

OP- Are you too proud to circle back and say you were wrong about your understanding of the budgeted teacher salary and that this thread never needed to exist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people go into teaching straight out if school and many have limited experience in other fields unless they leave teaching. So I think sometimes teachers don't understand what it's like in other fields. It's easy to idealize other people's jobs. Obviously people also idealize aspects of teaching.

Most jobs have really frustrating, annoying things about them. I've never had a job I love, I'm middle aged. I've also never made more than 105k despite spending my whole career in the DMV.

Do you consider yourself “super well paid”? The discussion is about whether teacher are super well paid. People keep pointing out other professions that make similar amounts. Do we think of those professions as super well paid?

I will also point out that it seems you have worked many places. The high salaries that people are talking about, which are similar to yours, are for people who have been in the organization for 20 years. Not people like you who jumped around.

The point is that DCPS teachers are well paid for teachers. Yes, also cost of living is higher. But as someone who also lives in DC on a salary similar to a teacher's, it's still a good salary for a profession not known for competitive wages.

Also, I don't currently make my peak salary. I took a huge pay cut 5 years ago in order to move into a flexible role because I became a mom and wanted/needed more WFH and a less rigid schedule. I now make 65k a year, despite being a 20 year veteran in my field, because I wanted a different work-life balance. And before you say "well your spouse must be a corporate attorney or something" -- nope. My spouse works in public interest (and has long hours and a lot of stress) and currently makes 110k, which is less than the 116k a teacher with 10+ years experience and a master's will make at a title 1 in DC. I don't begrudge the teacher the 116k! They earn it. But all jobs have trade offs. Neither my DH nor I have a pension. Taking less pay has enabled me to be able to take time off (without pay) during school breaks, but if I was in my previous position, we'd be scrambling every single break for childcare, on salaries that don't easily pay for childcare in this area.

So yes, teachers in DCPS are well paid compared to the average pay in their profession.

Is that 116 assuming that ten year teacher is highly effective? Because that includes a 20k bonus, not salaried

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people go into teaching straight out if school and many have limited experience in other fields unless they leave teaching. So I think sometimes teachers don't understand what it's like in other fields. It's easy to idealize other people's jobs. Obviously people also idealize aspects of teaching.

Most jobs have really frustrating, annoying things about them. I've never had a job I love, I'm middle aged. I've also never made more than 105k despite spending my whole career in the DMV.

Do you consider yourself “super well paid”? The discussion is about whether teacher are super well paid. People keep pointing out other professions that make similar amounts. Do we think of those professions as super well paid?

I will also point out that it seems you have worked many places. The high salaries that people are talking about, which are similar to yours, are for people who have been in the organization for 20 years. Not people like you who jumped around.

The point is that DCPS teachers are well paid for teachers. Yes, also cost of living is higher. But as someone who also lives in DC on a salary similar to a teacher's, it's still a good salary for a profession not known for competitive wages.

Also, I don't currently make my peak salary. I took a huge pay cut 5 years ago in order to move into a flexible role because I became a mom and wanted/needed more WFH and a less rigid schedule. I now make 65k a year, despite being a 20 year veteran in my field, because I wanted a different work-life balance. And before you say "well your spouse must be a corporate attorney or something" -- nope. My spouse works in public interest (and has long hours and a lot of stress) and currently makes 110k, which is less than the 116k a teacher with 10+ years experience and a master's will make at a title 1 in DC. I don't begrudge the teacher the 116k! They earn it. But all jobs have trade offs. Neither my DH nor I have a pension. Taking less pay has enabled me to be able to take time off (without pay) during school breaks, but if I was in my previous position, we'd be scrambling every single break for childcare, on salaries that don't easily pay for childcare in this area.

So yes, teachers in DCPS are well paid compared to the average pay in their profession.

Is that 116 assuming that ten year teacher is highly effective? Because that includes a 20k bonus, not salaried

When I look through the 2021 list of DC public employee salaries, I see a number of teachers with that description making 116k. It's based on that.

[Anonymous]

Both my spouse and I are teachers. When factoring in all the time off, the salaries, and the most important one, the pensions, yes we consider ourselves well paid. That said, it doesn't appear to be enough to keep or attract people. Both our schools are struggling to keep teachers and both have long term subs or day to day subs in positions that could not be filled. Admins are saying next year will be worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people go into teaching straight out if school and many have limited experience in other fields unless they leave teaching. So I think sometimes teachers don't understand what it's like in other fields. It's easy to idealize other people's jobs. Obviously people also idealize aspects of teaching.

Most jobs have really frustrating, annoying things about them. I've never had a job I love, I'm middle aged. I've also never made more than 105k despite spending my whole career in the DMV.

Do you consider yourself “super well paid”? The discussion is about whether teacher are super well paid. People keep pointing out other professions that make similar amounts. Do we think of those professions as super well paid?

I will also point out that it seems you have worked many places. The high salaries that people are talking about, which are similar to yours, are for people who have been in the organization for 20 years. Not people like you who jumped around.

The point is that DCPS teachers are well paid for teachers. Yes, also cost of living is higher. But as someone who also lives in DC on a salary similar to a teacher's, it's still a good salary for a profession not known for competitive wages.

Also, I don't currently make my peak salary. I took a huge pay cut 5 years ago in order to move into a flexible role because I became a mom and wanted/needed more WFH and a less rigid schedule. I now make 65k a year, despite being a 20 year veteran in my field, because I wanted a different work-life balance. And before you say "well your spouse must be a corporate attorney or something" -- nope. My spouse works in public interest (and has long hours and a lot of stress) and currently makes 110k, which is less than the 116k a teacher with 10+ years experience and a master's will make at a title 1 in DC. I don't begrudge the teacher the 116k! They earn it. But all jobs have trade offs. Neither my DH nor I have a pension. Taking less pay has enabled me to be able to take time off (without pay) during school breaks, but if I was in my previous position, we'd be scrambling every single break for childcare, on salaries that don't easily pay for childcare in this area.

So yes, teachers in DCPS are well paid compared to the average pay in their profession.

Is that 116 assuming that ten year teacher is highly effective? Because that includes a 20k bonus, not salaried

When I look through the 2021 list of DC public employee salaries, I see a number of teachers with that description making 116k. It's based on that.

Those teachers were highly effective. That isn’t a salary you earn at ten years without the 20K bonus at a title 1 school.

[Anonymous]

I am an MCPS high school teacher and I work my 2nd job on Saturdays , full-time in summer, and every non-teaching day that is scheduled like today, President's Day. It is my house maintenance money. It paid for my new roof, my new furnace, and my kitchen+bathroom floors in the past couple of years.

I have 2 masters degrees. I had roommates until l I was 40, which allowed me to put a down payment on my house and pay for the adoption of my daughter..

Why aren't you DCUMers running away from your current job and into public school teaching??

[Anonymous]

This is the average cost of a teacher, which includes ALL benefits. The average principal salary is 235k with benefits.

Please look at the actual public posting of salaries. Most teachers make way less than what you are wrongly implying, here.

[Anonymous]

I am OP and I still believe that DC teachers are well paid. Btw the salary and most of the summer off, plus pension, still a good deal imo. Stop the whining, that’s all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am OP and I still believe that DC teachers are well paid. Btw the salary and most of the summer off, plus pension, still a good deal imo. Stop the whining, that’s all.

You have no clue how toxic and stressful it can be to work for DCPS. We work with children, if we are unhappy it has an impact on YOUR children in a negative way. Whether teachers are consciously aware or not.

I suggest instead of calling teachers ‘whiny’ you have a productive adult conversation. Teachers are generally well paid in DCPS but the pay doesn’t offset the stress. If this were the case why are there so many openings?

I think you also need to look at why you have such ire towards teachers. Who hurt you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am OP and I still believe that DC teachers are well paid. Btw the salary and most of the summer off, plus pension, still a good deal imo. Stop the whining, that’s all.

Come join us if we have it so good. That’s what I don’t get about DCUM. For all the posts I see from non-teachers about how good we have it, I don’t see any of them flocking to our profession.

Summers off? Nope. Summers unpaid and spent in trainings or working a 2nd job. High salary? Not most of us. Pension? Only if you survive the classroom for 30+ years, which most of us don’t.

And whining? Why ask if you don’t want to hear the truth? And “explaining” is not synonymous with “whining”.

So PP, the door is open. Since you still think it’s a great deal, then why aren’t you signing up? Why aren’t others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP and I still believe that DC teachers are well paid. Btw the salary and most of the summer off, plus pension, still a good deal imo. Stop the whining, that’s all.

Come join us if we have it so good. That’s what I don’t get about DCUM. For all the posts I see from non-teachers about how good we have it, I don’t see any of them flocking to our profession.

Summers off? Nope. Summers unpaid and spent in trainings or working a 2nd job. High salary? Not most of us. Pension? Only if you survive the classroom for 30+ years, which most of us don’t.

And whining? Why ask if you don’t want to hear the truth? And “explaining” is not synonymous with “whining”.

So PP, the door is open. Since you still think it’s a great deal, then why aren’t you signing up? Why aren’t others?

+100

Good teachers are leaving daily. So many of you have made teaching sound so desirable and so much better than your career (summers and holidays off, great pay, pension!) but none have expressed any interest in making a career change. I wonder why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an MCPS high school teacher and I work my 2nd job on Saturdays , full-time in summer, and every non-teaching day that is scheduled like today, President's Day. It is my house maintenance money. It paid for my new roof, my new furnace, and my kitchen+bathroom floors in the past couple of years.

I have 2 masters degrees. I had roommates until l I was 40, which allowed me to put a down payment on my house and pay for the adoption of my daughter..

Why aren't you DCUMers running away from your current job and into public school teaching??

MCPS teachers don't make as much as DCPS teachers. The whole premise of this thread is that DCPS teachers are paid well, not that all teachers, or even that all teachers in the area are paid well.

Why don't you get a job with DCPS? Apparently they are hiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people go into teaching straight out if school and many have limited experience in other fields unless they leave teaching. So I think sometimes teachers don't understand what it's like in other fields. It's easy to idealize other people's jobs. Obviously people also idealize aspects of teaching.

Most jobs have really frustrating, annoying things about them. I've never had a job I love, I'm middle aged. I've also never made more than 105k despite spending my whole career in the DMV.

You say that like it's a gotcha but isn't it good to pay highly effective teachers more?

Also, are you the MCPS teacher? Because again, it's been established that DCPS teachers make more and this thread is about DCPS teachers and is in the DCPS forum.


Do you consider yourself “super well paid”? The discussion is about whether teacher are super well paid. People keep pointing out other professions that make similar amounts. Do we think of those professions as super well paid?

I will also point out that it seems you have worked many places. The high salaries that people are talking about, which are similar to yours, are for people who have been in the organization for 20 years. Not people like you who jumped around.

The point is that DCPS teachers are well paid for teachers. Yes, also cost of living is higher. But as someone who also lives in DC on a salary similar to a teacher's, it's still a good salary for a profession not known for competitive wages.

Also, I don't currently make my peak salary. I took a huge pay cut 5 years ago in order to move into a flexible role because I became a mom and wanted/needed more WFH and a less rigid schedule. I now make 65k a year, despite being a 20 year veteran in my field, because I wanted a different work-life balance. And before you say "well your spouse must be a corporate attorney or something" -- nope. My spouse works in public interest (and has long hours and a lot of stress) and currently makes 110k, which is less than the 116k a teacher with 10+ years experience and a master's will make at a title 1 in DC. I don't begrudge the teacher the 116k! They earn it. But all jobs have trade offs. Neither my DH nor I have a pension. Taking less pay has enabled me to be able to take time off (without pay) during school breaks, but if I was in my previous position, we'd be scrambling every single break for childcare, on salaries that don't easily pay for childcare in this area.

So yes, teachers in DCPS are well paid compared to the average pay in their profession.

Is that 116 assuming that ten year teacher is highly effective? Because that includes a 20k bonus, not salaried

When I look through the 2021 list of DC public employee salaries, I see a number of teachers with that description making 116k. It's based on that.

Those teachers were highly effective. That isn’t a salary you earn at ten years without the 20K bonus at a title 1 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OP and I still believe that DC teachers are well paid. Btw the salary and most of the summer off, plus pension, still a good deal imo. Stop the whining, that’s all.

Come join us if we have it so good. That’s what I don’t get about DCUM. For all the posts I see from non-teachers about how good we have it, I don’t see any of them flocking to our profession.

Summers off? Nope. Summers unpaid and spent in trainings or working a 2nd job. High salary? Not most of us. Pension? Only if you survive the classroom for 30+ years, which most of us don’t.

And whining? Why ask if you don’t want to hear the truth? And “explaining” is not synonymous with “whining”.

So PP, the door is open. Since you still think it’s a great deal, then why aren’t you signing up? Why aren’t others?

+100

Good teachers are leaving daily. So many of you have made teaching sound so desirable and so much better than your career (summers and holidays off, great pay, pension!) but none have expressed any interest in making a career change. I wonder why.

Literally all that has been said is that teachers in DCPS are pretty well compensated. No one has said teaching is a better profession. I think dental hygienists are pretty well compensated, but I don't want to be a dental hygienist.

I don't want to be a teacher because I struggle with jobs where I have to interact with others most of the time. I think I'd be okay in teaching for a few years, because I do like working with kids and the actual act of instruction is something I like. But I'd probably burn out because I know at some point I'd really want to be behind a closed office door, focusing on work I can do by myself without talking/interacting.

But if I had the personality to be "on" for more of my day, I could make more as a teacher than I do in my current job.