Genuine question, no disrespect intended. I looked up the average teacher salary in Texas. It's around $57K. In a state where rent is $1,500+, property taxes are insane, and everything keeps going up.
My neighbor is a teacher. She works 6am-5pm during the school year, tutors on weekends, and does summer school. That's not a 9-month job. That's a 12-month grind for a salary that hasn't kept up with anything.
Are teachers here doing okay? Leaving? What's the reality?
Year 8 teacher here. I love teaching. I cannot afford teaching. I tutor, do test prep on weekends, and drive for a rideshare in the summer. It shouldn't be like this.
My wife is a teacher and her take-home after insurance, retirement, and union dues is about $3,200/month. Our mortgage alone is $2,100. Do the math.
The "but you get summers off" crowd has clearly never met a teacher. My wife spends summer doing curriculum planning, professional development, and setting up her classroom. It's unpaid work.
Starting salary in my district is $52K. Starting salary at Buc-ee's is $50K. With less stress, less responsibility, and no papers to grade at home. That tells you everything about how we value teachers.
The real cost is what Texas is losing. Good teachers leave for other careers or other states. What's left is a teacher shortage that keeps getting worse. My kid's school has had 3 substitute teachers this year because they can't fill positions.
Left teaching last year for corporate training. Same skills, double the salary, and I don't cry in my car anymore. I miss the kids but I don't miss the system.