Governor Pat McCrory comes to UCPS to sign state budget with 4.7 percent pay increase for NC teachers
Walter Bickett Elementary thirdgrade teacher Madison Gray works two jobs to pay the bills . With the pending 4.7 percent pay increase for teachers signed into law on July 14 , 2016 by Gov . Pat McCrory , that may change .
North Carolina Gov . Pat McCrory came to Shiloh Elementary School in Union County to sign the state ’ s $ 22.3 billion budget , which brings the average teacher pay in North Carolina to about $ 50,000 , and beginning teacher salary to $ 35,000 .
“ Teacher pay in North Carolina has increased faster than any state in the United States of America ,” McCrory said . “ With the addition of health and retirement benefits , which adds another $ 17,000 of total compensation , the average teacher pay , including compensation , is $ 67,000 .”
In a press conference , held in the media center at the school , McCrory told a room filled with educators , community members and elected officials , that from 2001 to 2012 , North Carolina went from being 17 in the nation in teacher pay to about 48 .
“ We ’ re seeing people not get into the teaching profession for numerous reasons , but one is the pay is not competitive ,” McCrory said .
“ Since 2013 , we ’ ve invested more than $ 1 billion in new funding for teacher pay , including the largest average teacher pay increase in the country . Today I ’ m signing a 4.7 percent pay increase for teachers in North Carolina .”
“ This is a great thing for teachers . I know they will appreciate it ,” said Shiloh Elementary speech pathologist Jessika Guzman . “ It will make the morale for the school and the community better . There will be more respect for teachers from community , because people associate money with respect . I think it will show new teachers that the government actually cares about increasing the salary of teachers .”
McCrory said with the increases he ’ s making this year to teacher pay , North Carolina moves back up that scale , bringing it up to somewhere in the low 30s . “ As of 2013 , teacher pay in North Carolina has increased faster than any state in the United States of America ,” he said .
“ This will mean I don ’ t have to live paycheck to paycheck ,” said Gray , a five-year veteran teacher . “ I have two jobs just to support myself and my family . Hopefully , this will mean I can quit the second job . I would be able to go home after work rather than having to go to my second job .”
The new budget also addresses technology in the classroom . When McCrory came to office , only about 20 percent of the state ’ s classrooms were connected to WiFi , he said . Today that number has increased to about 60 percent . His current budget works toward his goal to have 100 percent of North Carolina schools connected to WiFi by 2018 .
“ The classrooms I ’ ve visited – everything is digital , which gives students access to information across the world at the touch of their fingertips ,” he said .
8 • Sept / Oct 2016 • Parent Teacher News
North Carolina Gov . Pat McCrory signs a $ 22.3 billion state budget during a press conference held at Shiloh Elementary School .
UCPS Interim Superintendent Michele Morris said she is very happy that the governor chose Union County Public Schools to sign the state ’ s 2017 budget and announce the teacher pay increase .
“ This budget represents a commitment to reaching a competitive teacher salary schedule ,” Morris said .
“ We were thrilled to host such a huge event ,” Shiloh Assistant Principal Jennifer Aldredge said . “ It was an honor for us to host the governor . It ’ s such a wonderful thing for teachers that there ’ s going to be a pay raise . It will contribute highly to teacher morale and it will be good for new teachers moving to North Carolina . We want teachers to continue their education and continue getting their degree toward teaching . Hopefully , those will all be the positive effects of the pay raise the governor has implemented .”
At the close of the press conference , McCrory thanked teachers for their dedication to teaching children .
“ You ’ re teaching because you want to make a difference in people ’ s lives ,” he said . “ The fact is you have not been respected like you should have been … This pay increase is for all the teachers in North Carolina . God bless each one of you .” — This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .