Iowa educators aren’t being put in the best position to succeed. Teacher pay in our state sits near the lowest in the country, which is totally unacceptable. Our educators deserve a living wage; that helps retain the talent in our state and recruit teachers who genuinely care about helping students succeed.
How can schools provide the best education when they’re already struggling to provide teachers the pay they deserve, with limited funding?
According to the National Education Association’s most recent report, Iowa’s average starting teacher salary is approximately $40,997, ranking 46th in the nation. This should concern anyone who cares about the future of our state’s education system.
Starting salary is important to young educators deciding where to start their careers. Iowa will very quickly miss out on top talent simply because the compensation isn’t where it needs to be.
The average teacher salary in the state is a bit higher at $62,399, but it still ranks #32 in the nation. This doesn’t seem like a bad salary at first glance, but when you consider that the minimum living wage in the state is $62,495, it leaves much to be desired.
The average should help our educators live comfortably, not barely hit the minimum living wage.
Teacher pay directly relates to the quality of education our students receive. Schools with a staff of talented and stable teachers who are more likely to stay in the profession, build lasting relationships with students and families.
The more we support our educators and schools, the better our system will become. Higher wages will help keep talented teachers in the state and better position our students to succeed.
So how do we get there? Well, it all starts with funding.
How we fund our schools is directly related to how we can fairly compensate teachers. The current proposal in the legislature, SF 2201, does not address the real challenges Iowa schools face. I’ve already talked about this in detail, but a 1.75% annual increase is simply not enough.
School districts are already stretched thin and facing difficult decisions. Rising costs for transportation, classroom materials, and other important things are putting pressure on local budgets. If we want Iowa to be known for strong public education, we need funding proposals and lawmakers who truly understand the real needs of teaching professionals and schools.
Iowa should be a top state for valuing education, but to get there, we need to continue investing and make thoughtful policy decisions.
If you’d like to make a difference, feel free to get in contact with me. I truly value hearing from the voices of our district, and fully believe we can solve this issue together.