46th: State's salary ranking shows there is work to be done

When you are close to the bottom of any list, it is time to take notice.

And North Carolina is there when it comes to teacher salaries.

And while it is understandable that budgets have to be considered, it should come as no surprise to anyone that a number like this is not a good sign for those who want to see education reform in the coming years.

Bottom line is a good teacher, one who is dedicated, committed and who cares about students and their progress, still has to support a family of his or her own.

So, why not go to the school district that rewards its teachers?

If this state is serious about making better schools, it needs to put attracting and keeping quality teachers as its Job 1. And that starts with being competitive in the salary arena.

It is just like it is in the business world. If you reward good people -- they stay and your business thrives.

That is the first step in seeing the same success in state schools.

Published in Editorials on March 14, 2014 10:50 AM