The grass is always greener on the other side of the
fence. North Carolina's educators are constantly
complaining they’re paid well below the national average. The fact is each state has a different median
income and cost of living. The truth is
teachers make as much, if not more, than the average Tar Heel family.
The media is making a big deal about retention rates
in North Carolina. Little is reported on
where these teachers originate from and to why they’re leaving, except of
course the media’s portrayal of poor pay and lack of respect. The John Locke Foundation shed some light on
this topic.
Earlier
this month, Dr. Alisa Chapman, Vice President for Academic and University
Programs for the University of North Carolina System, briefed members of the NC State Board of
Education on the background, demographics, and qualifications of the state's
teaching profession.
Drawing on data
from the 2011-2012 school year, Dr. Chapman found that, of the 95,543 teachers
employed that year, approximately 37 percent of them were trained in UNC System
institutions. The next largest share consisted of teachers trained in
other states. Nearly 29 percent of North Carolina's teacher workforce
received their teaching credential from a college or university beyond our borders.
The remaining third of teachers could not be classified, came from a private
university in North Carolina, or entered the profession through alternative
entry, Teach for America (TFA), or Visiting International Faculty (VIF)
programs.
Do not be alarmed.
Do not blame Republicans. Do not blame me. This is nothing
new. For a decade or more, the UNC System and out-of-state institutions
have supplied the majority of North Carolina's public school teachers.
Dr. Chapman found that, between 2005 and 2012, there were only slight
fluctuations in the percentage of teachers trained by the UNC System or
"imported" from other states.
Data on teachers
trained in UNC System institutions is plentiful. Although Dr. Chapman has
identified their states of origin, we know less about teachers trained in other
states. It should come as no surprise that New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Michigan, and West Virginia supplied 12 percent or nearly 11,300 public school
teachers during the 2011-2012 school year. Permanent teaching jobs are
harder and harder to come by in those states, because their populations are
declining or aging, the local tax bases cannot support extravagant spending on
public schools, and turnover is limited. As long as supply
continues to outstrip demand (and it will for the foreseeable future), growing
school districts in North Carolina will continue to recruit teachers from these
states
Houston, TX has been recruiting North Carolina
teachers. Those leaving for greener
pastures cite a higher salary and no state income tax. Funny how no state income taxes is an incentive
when they, and their progressive comrades, skewered republicans for trying to abolish
it.
Ricky Ferguson said
he's working his dream job, teaching high school science. Last year, he
taught in Union County. Now he is one of dozens of North Carolina
transplants teaching in Texas.
"I'm doing the same job I was doing
in Carolina, I'm just being appreciated here more in Texas," Ferguson
said.
Channel 9 first met Ferguson in July when Houston school leaders were in Charlotte, trying to recruit new teachers. Ferguson accepted the job on the spot, excited to make $60,000, which is double his North Carolina salary.
"With North Carolina with the salary I was making and the state income tax, I was lucky if I brought home $20K a year and that's with a master’s degree," Ferguson said.
The cost of living in Houston is comparable to Charlotte's and Texas does not collect income tax, so teachers keep more of their paychecks.
I have no doubt in my
mind Mr. Ferguson was a big advocate for the progressive income tax in North
Carolina. Now that he’s in Houston, I
wonder what progressives have to say about the state of education in Texas. Here’s an excerpt from an article. See if you notice anything familiar.
Despite having a
starting salary that is on par with other states, the average teacher in Texas
makes about $49,000 a year — about $8,000 below the national average. Teacher
pay in Texas ranked 30th in the nation during the 2010-11 school
year, dropping to 35th two years later,
according to an annual state-by-state analysis by the
National Education Association.
Mr. Ferguson has a starting salary of $60,000 a year
and living in a luxury apartment when the average annual salary for a teacher
in Texas is $49,000? Something smells fishy.
Sources:
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