In short, many of the people who set policy in Raleigh are banking on the premise that educators in NC are not truly knowledgeable of all the facets of pubic education to really see how matters can be manipulated for special interests. Educators wear many hats, have various undefined expectations, are constantly bombarded with tasks, … Continue reading An Open Letter To Public School Educators: We Must Be Educated About Public Education. 10 Things All Educators In NC Should Know.

Think of all of the factors that affect how well public schools can operate. Now take all of those factors and divide them up by who is responsible for them: elected officials and teachers. Here is the distribution: Actually there is one under the teachers column. If you want to blame teachers for the current … Continue reading So, You Think Public Education Is Not Good In NC? Teachers Are The Last People You Should Blame.

We need to fight for them so they receive the pay that allows them to actually maintain a living. They are just as vital to the operation of our schools as anyone else, and I am thankful as a teacher to have these people keep our schools not only functioning, but vibrant. If you have … Continue reading Advocate And Fight For The Unsung Heroes of Our Public Schools: Classified Employees

The GOP-led NC legislature’s 2013 decision to end graduate degree pay bumps for new teachers entering the teaching profession was not only misguided, but another wave in the assault on public education that continues here in the Old North State. And the very person who has influenced more policy on public education since 2013, Sen. … Continue reading NC Should Restore Graduate Degree Pay

As every August approaches, teachers begin a new school year and their “step” will increase by another year. That “step” is the number of years served in schools. Not long ago, teachers who served the state for at least ten years would receive what was called “longevity” pay as part of their commitment to public … Continue reading This Teacher Has Lost Over $15K In Longevity Pay. What About You, Veteran Teacher?

Below is the salary schedule for a teacher in North Carolina for the 2023-2024 school year. Any teacher new to the profession in the last nine years would never be on the second schedule because newer teachers are not allowed a pay bump for graduate degrees. Notice how the salaries also plateau after year 15. … Continue reading They Are Already Cutting Teacher Retirement. Just Look.

Here is the salary schedule that was in place for the 2023-2024 school year and will still be in place if a new budget is not passed that changes it. For those who are not teachers, make sure to pay attention to years 15-24. Frozen. 10 years of the same. There is no longevity pay … Continue reading 10 Frozen Years: The NCGA’s Plan To Eliminate Career Teachers

In October of 2017, the venerable James Ford of the Public School Forum delivered the keynote address at the North Carolina English Teacher’s Association. It was more than exceptional as Ford highlighted that what hurts our schools most are external factors that are not being dealt with such as systemic poverty. Part of his presentation … Continue reading EVAAS Still Sucks

Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive an increase in salary and a higher certificate if they held graduate degrees. That does not happen any longer. Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive due-process rights after a few years of teaching to allow themselves a chance for defense if their jobs … Continue reading The Endgame: No More Career Teachers In North Carolina

From a prepared statement last summer in front of a U.S. House Committee: So much for transparency.