‘$53 a day’: North Carolina teacher posts paycheck on Facebook to draw attention to teacher pay

CNN ^ | 5/14/2018 | CNN Wire

[simpson96]

STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — A Stokes County man took to Facebook on Thursday to draw attention to low teacher pay.

In the post, Nick Cols said he has been teaching for 10 years and loves his job but is struggling because he only makes about $1,715 each month.

The English teacher said his hourly pay comes out to be $6.69 an hour, which is roughly $1 less than North Carolina’s minimum wage.

“I know some will look at this and speak to the fact that I get summers off. I do. I get two weeks vacation here and a week there. I do. All of that is true. I, however, do not get paid for those days,” he said.

He goes on to say he and his wife, who is also a teacher, are struggling and “cannot pay for anything.”

Cols continues to say he can’t afford to attend the May 16 rally in Raleigh where teachers are expected to protest at the General Assembly when lawmakers reconvene for the legislative short session.

During the rally, teachers from around the state plan to lobby the legislature for what they say are desperately needed new state dollars for underfunded school systems.

To attend, he would have to take a personal day and forfeit $75 from his next paycheck.

“I want you to see what the people who are educating your children are being paid. The people who are writing Letters of Recommendation,” he said. “The people who are giving them the tools to achieve things that most never thought possible. The people who give themselves daily to wide swaths of kids.”

[TomServo]

There’s always the food services industry.

[mountn man]

What does the Principal and school Superintendent make???

[Ancient Man]

Quit, and get a better paying job.

[generally]

1. I’d be surprised if that is really his salary.

2. If you’re not making enough money, look for a new job. (That’s what I did whenever I didn’t think I was making enough. I didn’t organize a whinefest to try to make people feel sorry for me.)

[1Old Pro]

He should move to NY, he could quadruple his pay (but his taxes would quadruple too and the cost of living is double)

[Vaquero]

Jeeze Hoss, ya think you picked the wrong field?

And whose fault is that?

[hsmomx3]

Many teachers in AZ are complaining of the same thing. They are doing walk-outs and are scheduling more when school starts up again and I believe right around election time.

[mewzilla]

Does he get Social Security deducted...?

And, pard, you might get paid more if most of your district’s budget wasn’t going to pay pensions and health bennies.

[Steve_Seattle]

Something doesn’t add up - how can he be earning less than the minimum wage? By adding in hours when he isn’t working?

[laweeks]

Something doesn’t sound right. He works maybe 8 months tops, and could do other things in his off months. I’d like to know what his base pay is. Sounds like he’s screwing with his math . . . probably Common Core math.

[Vigilanteman]

Here in SW PA, $70K salaries are not unusual and $60K is about par for the course for a nine month a year job. There are few, if any, in the admin field who make less than $100K annually.

Substitutes only make $100 or so per day. Guess where it is easiest to find a job in teaching?

[mewzilla]

He may be a per diem hire.

[gruffwolf]

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/finance/salary/schedules/2017-18schedules.pdf

Not bad for 10 months of work. Especially when you consider all the other time off that is rolled into their work schedules.

[mewzilla]

Wonder how much the average taxpayer in his school district makes...?

[Osage Orange]

It sucks when you make poor choices....

When I went to college..I researched what I could make...within my chosen profession.

I've little sympathy for this guy and his wife...

"Teachers" here in OK.....bitch and moan all the time about their pay. I question..."Why did you get into a field...that doesn't pay well?" OR.....move to a state that pays better.

[grania]

I don't believe this. Even a teacher making as little as $27,000 a year would be earning $150 per day based on a 180 day year. Are they fully certified teachers? Are they aides? Are they full or part time? Are they substitutes?

If their pay is that low, it's on them to get another job.

[pepsionice]

First, go ask about the healthcare package, and you will find that it’s a five-star package.

Second, ask what the union takes out for dues.

Third, ask if the individual is single or married. I’m guessing single.

Fourth, ask if their college debt is being subtracted out of the pay.

Fifth, ask if this is a low income rural district.

At some time when I got ready to retire out of the military, I had a slight interest in teaching (ever so slight). And I chatted with some Montana district that would have been interested in hiring me....but after you figured up taxes and such taken out...it would come out to $1,400 left each month (that was in 1999).

[QuigleyDU]

Less see, average teaching salary in NC is 50,000. 1715x12=20580. So he’s making 30,000 less than the average. He’s either lying, is just a substitute, or needs a degree.

[generally]

I don’t know what it’s like in other areas, but where I live, the elementary school teachers only teach for about 2 hours a day, 4 days per week.

Nearly every week, there is a holiday, sick day, personal leave day, teacher workshop day, admin day, or some other reason for the teacher to not be in the classroom. On the days when the teacher is there, the kids are out of the classroom for hours with gym, music, library, recess, art. lunch. All of those are WITHOUT the main classroom teacher.