The Teacher Pay Mess

Part I: Teacher Pay Is Bizarre!

In this episode, Amanda and Trina English delve into the critical issue of the teacher shortage crisis, focusing primarily on the history and issues surrounding teacher pay. They discuss the historical context for why teacher salaries are designed the way they are, touching on themes of structural sexism and income inequality. They also explore the broader implications of the teacher pay structure on attracting new talent, especially from diverse backgrounds. They emphasize the need for systemic change and offer insights on how to address these entrenched issues. The conversation sets the stage for a series of episodes aimed at uncovering the underlying factors contributing to the teacher shortage, all from teachers' point of view.

Part II: Take This Mess and Shove It!

In this episode, Amanda and Trina interview Kelvin Mak, a UC Berkeley and Standford educated teacher who quit the profession after only two years due to the oppressive pay system in place in our nation's schools.  He reacts to the revelation he learned while listening to the previous episode that teachers are only paid a fraction of a complete salary due to the system sexism baked into our profession.  Both Amanda and Trina struggle with his decision to leave feeling simultaneously happy for him, and sad for their profession at the loss of exciting new talent. 

Part III: More Angles on the Topic

This episode centers on a discussion about teacher pay, featuring Trina and Dr. Paul Bruno from the University of Illinois. The conversation highlights the complexity and inadequacies of teacher compensation systems, particularly focusing on the disparity in pay between veteran and novice teachers, the rigidity of step and column salary schedules, and the broader socio-economic challenges impacting education funding and teacher retention. 

Trina emphasizes issues such as the historical underpayment of teachers due to structural sexism, while both underscore the significant differences in teaching conditions and pay across districts and states, and the lack of effective support for teachers in high-cost urban areas. 

They call for a reevaluation of teacher pay structures, better support systems, and broader socio-economic reforms to address these issues. 

Part IV: Real Talk

In this episode of the Teacher Shortage Crisis Podcast, the hosts welcome Janice Cook, a veteran teacher from New England. They delve into the critical issues surrounding teacher pay and the hardships teachers face trying to make a living in this profession. Janice shares her personal journey, discussing the difficult choices she made due to insufficient salaries, taxes, high, cost of living, and excessive bureaucratic hurdles. They  explore the idea of forming a national professional teacher association with innovative teachers leading the way. Throughout, they highlight the disconnect between different stakeholders in education and the need for systemic reforms.