Burke educators join march for increased teacher salaries

North Carolina is among the top states in the nation for business and population growth but is projected to be in the bottom five for teacher salaries this year, raising red flags for Burke educators who’ve been in the field for decades.

When hundreds of teachers and supporters from across the state gathered in Raleigh on May 1, they marched on the state capitol with the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), demanding that the General Assembly put “Kids Over Corporations” when composing the state budget.

The General Assembly has still not finalized a state budget, despite months of pressure from health care officials and educational leaders.

“The North Carolina General Assembly has chosen to cater to billion-dollar corporations instead of prioritizing the people and children of our state,” said NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly.

Kelly was referring to current state law, which has corporations like Duke Energy on track to pay 0% in state corporate income taxes by 2030, though they would still pay other state and federal taxes.

“How else can you explain being first in business, but last in education?” she said.

Six teachers from Burke County attended the march, including NCAE Burke County President and Patton High School English teacher Deanna Minetola.

“I believe that the number of people that are willing to show up is more impactful to the legislators that are looking out from their offices,” Minetola said. “The more people that they visibly can see, the more they understand how many people are willing to take off (from work) to make their voices heard.”

The average teacher pay across the state, $60,323 as of the 2024-25 fiscal year, ranked No. 43 in the nation, according to the National Education Association. That’s nearly 20% lower than the national average of $74,495.

That number is estimated to decrease to $59,971 this year, which would drop the state to No. 46 in the country.

Last year’s average starting salary of $44,952 sat only five spots higher, at No. 38 — approximately 6.6% less than the national average.

Teachers from across the state made their way to Raleigh because pay is managed at the state level, with very few decisions actually made locally.

“We’ve all written emails,” Minetola explained. “We’ve called. We’ve done what we need to do that way. Actually, being willing to show up and show out is what they don’t often see.”

Minetola’s concerns lie more with veteran teachers than beginning teachers. While beginning teachers may be struggling more coming out of college into the workforce, her focus was on retaining employees long-term.

“When we talk about raising beginning teacher salaries — which I believe they should — to $50,000, but you leave veteran educators at $56- to $58,000, how do you return people for 30 years in a profession, when the max they’re going to make is $8,000 over the course of 30 years?” Minetola said.

LOCALIZED SUPPORT

Although base salaries are the same across all counties in North Carolina, the Burke County school district provides a 5.5% supplement, with half received in November, and the other half in May — akin to paying a bonus.

From county to county, supplements are often where districts gain an extra edge in recruitment, alongside commute times and similar factors.

“This being Teacher Appreciation Week, it is a great time to remember that our educators continue showing up every day for children, even during periods of uncertainty,” said Dr. Mike Swan, superintendent of Burke County Public Schools.

“Many of our employees are part of households that depend on public service salaries,” he continued, “including spouses who also work in education or other state positions. We are hopeful for a state budget that reflects the value and professionalism of North Carolina’s educators.”

Although teachers with National Board certification earn 12% more in their salaries, there is currently no advantage to having education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

SUPPORT FROM STATE LEADERS

In March, Gov. Josh Stein proposed a “Critical Needs Budget,” suggesting an increase to starting teacher pay, moving the rate from $44,952 to $49,518.

“Teachers across our state are working hard to prepare our students to succeed, and we must join them in investing in student success,” said Stein. “I’m eager to partner with my colleagues at the General Assembly to invest in our children’s future and give North Carolina teachers a real pay raise.”

He also suggested a 5.8% average and 2.5% minimum raise for all existing teachers and instructional support. Among the other benefits to educators, he proposed reinstatement of master’s degree pay, where teachers receive a higher salary for more education.

The salary increases in the proposal are estimated to cost the state $397 million.

Minetola said she hopes the General Assembly will focus on increasing teacher pay through per-pupil spending, noting that costs such as insurance premiums still reduce teachers’ take-home pay.

“Whether we’re talking first-year teachers or 30-year teachers, they’re all being held back,” she said.