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Public School Teacher Salary

The truth about public school teacher salaries in Texas

Ed Tor    Sept. 1, 2007 (updated Sept. 2018)
    Everyone knows a teacher's salary is low, really low.  We've been hearing that for decades, and we still do (paricularly by pandering politicians during election season).  We all remember our teachers telling us so, and often.  We believed them too. Everyone still believes that. We hear it all the time so it must be true, right?  WRONG!  To be honest, most of us are in favor of everyone earning as much as possible, but NOT through lies and deception. So... just how "poorly" are teachers paid? Let us compare the minimum public school teacher salary to a "real world" example:
Public school teachers make 138% more and work 43% less than many other jobs requiring the same amount of college!

     Comparisons should not end there either.  They are all guaranteed, again by state law, a very nice raise every year, for twenty [20] years. Just for breathing air, they will all get right at a $600 raise their first, second and third years and $1,240 their fourth, fifth and sixth year! Every public school teacher gets an average one thousand dollar $1,000.00] raise in each of their first ten years. And these raises go on, and on, and on, for twenty years. Pandering politicians keep increasing this "schedule of automatic raises" often!  They recently raised it $2,500 just one year after having raised it $580. And remember... this is at a minimum!  Most public school districts add to these state required minimums.  This is NOT merit pay. EVERYONE gets it, just for showing up.  View this years Minimum Salary Schedule below. The business world has nothing even close to this kind of largess!

    Comparison could continue by looking at a teacher's lavish benefit package including health and retirement plans.  Additionally, work environment, hiring opportunity, comfort, safety and proximity to home could be compared.  To that list add their unique opportunity to continue higher education or moonlight during the summer months, both of which will increase their annual income. Another salary boost available to teachers, and sometimes only them, are all the part time income sources like coaching, club sponsor, chaperon, bus driver, etc. Again... the business world has nothing close to this.

Huge financial savings, a very real yet unspoken benefit, are also available like working close to home which saves thousands of dollars and hours over commuting. Being able to place their children in the school they work at [a free benefit in most every district] instead of the one all their neighbors must use can be huge.  This saves many thousands of dollars each year, for each child, if their only other choice would be private school because their neighborhood school was unacceptable. And this 'corporate daycare' just happens to dovetail perfectly with their work hours.

    If any public servants are truly deserving of higher pay, it is the law enforcement officer.  Required work hours are seldom only forty a week, and they are, in fact, ON DUTY by state law twenty-four [24] hours a day, every day, as a duly sworn peace officer. A peace officer on patrol braves killer highways, and the known killers on those highways, every single day!  Using a policeman's salary and work hours to compare with a teacher's will show even greater disparity than the example used above.

    Public school teachers are suppose to be public servants like politicians. But every election season the latter tell us we need to pay the former more. And they too are never honest with us about their own salaries and benefits. Could our Bashful Servants be a little ashamed of how much they actually know they do make? And since their pay is, in fact, our taxes raised by threat of force from many who work longer and harder for much less, they should be a little ashamed. But Shame is a rare thing these days, so I doubt it.

    Again, let me say for the record; I am in favor of everyone earning as much as they can.  But... how about some integrity? How about some honesty?  And teachers... stop whining all the time about how "poorly you're paid."  It would be refreshing to hear some teachers admit what a wonderful salary they have, and how thankful they are to us regular tax paying schmucks for it.  I guess I'm dreaming.


¹    notes & references:

Seguin Daily News, June 23, 2006, page 3 - quoting Superintendent Dennis Dreyer, Marion I.S.D.; "The starting salary for a first year teacher in Marion will now be $34,000.  ... we are more than $8,000 behind Northeast starting salary."  [$34K + $8K  + $3K = $45K -- Dreyer's 2006 stated figure of $34K included an additional $6,680 from the local district (Marion ISD) above the Texas state minimum of $27,320.  It is normal for districts to add to the state minimum making effective minimum salaries quite higher. As Dreyer stated, the Northeast ISD (20 miles away in northeast San Antonio) was paying $8,000 more, hence the "+$8K" figure. And the "+ $3K" is the increase of  $3,000 for the young ladies masters degree in my example which is believed to be a fair average stipend adjustment for public school teachers.]

1,122 hours per year is calculated using the state required 187 days times six [6] hours a day.  Six [6] hours per day is the average between an 8 AM to 3 PM school day and an 8 AM to 4 PM school day, less the one [1] hour state required"off period,"  and allowing one half [1/2] hour for lunch. Non of the other non-instructional 'off' periods of time were considered in the calculations like  five [5] minutes between classes and while all students are busy studying or testing.  Also. a teachers' students are often excused for pep rallys, plays, concerts and home games during school hours. These add up to considerable 'off' time.


State law defines base work requirements as noted here from: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm
EDUCATION CODE
TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION
SUBTITLE D. EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS
CHAPTER 21. EDUCATORS
SUBCHAPTER I. DUTIES AND BENEFITS
Sec. 21.401.  MINIMUM SERVICE REQUIRED
(b)  An educator employed under a 10-month contract must provide a minimum of 187 days of service.

or

https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Salary_and_Service_Record/Minimum_Salary_Schedules/

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter153/ch153cc.html
Full-time employment--Employment for 100% of an institution's normal work schedule.
Full-time means contracted employment for at least ten months (187 days) for 100% of the school day in accordance with definitions of school day in TEC, §25.082, employment contract in TEC, §21.002, and school year in TEC, §25.081.

State Minimum Salary Schedule for Classroom Teachers, Full-Time Librarians, Full-Time Counselors, and Full-Time Nurses (Section 21.402(c), Texas Education Code)

The state base salary schedule is in accordance with the provisions of TEC 21.402 and applies only to classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time nurses. There is no state minimum salary for any other position.

In no instance may a school district pay classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, or full-time nurses less than the state base salary listed for that individual's years of experience. A classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school nurse employed by a school district in the (current) school year is entitled to a salary that is at least equal to the salary the employee received for the (previous) school year, as long as the employee is employed by the same district.

Monthly Salary Based on the Standard 10-Month Contract

   updated: 2018-2019 Minimum Salary Schedule

Years of
  Experience
  Credited

Monthly Salary

Annual Salary
  (10 month contract)

0

2,808

28,080

1

2,869

28,690

2

2,929

29,290

3

2,989

29,890

4

3,117

31,170

5

3,244

32,440

6

3,372

33,720

7

3,490

34,900

8

3,602

36,020

9

3,708

37,080

10

3,808

38,080

11

3,902

39,020

12

3,993

39,930

13

4,076

40,760

14

4,156

41,560

15

4,231

42,310

16

4,303

43,030

17

4,370

43,700

18

4,434

44,340

19

4,494

44,940

20 & Over

4,551

45,510
 
CRIMINAL ACTS

"Facts are stubborn things; and what ever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they can not alter the state of facts, and evidence."  President John Adams

Will our newly re-elected "guardians of the law" prosecute?

The Sheriff says; "I believe you are a law-abiding citizen who has worked hard for what you have.  I also believe you are tired of people who turn to crime as an easy way to make a living with little responsibility to society."  Does the Sheriff only have "beliefs" or will he uphold the law?

The County Attorney says; "she has fought against unethical practices and conflicts of interest by government agencies ... As your County Attorney, she believes protecting the public trust is her number one priority."  Using tax payers funds against them to steal an election that steals NINETEEN MILLION DOLLARS [$19,000,000.00] certainly qualifies for "unethical practices and conflicts of interest by government agencies."  The "public trust" of half the people of this area, and really everyone, has been trampled, so we are glad to know it is her "number one priority." 

We shall expect charges filed in the near future!

Texas Public Law states:
§ 255.003. Unlawful Use of Public Funds for Political Advertising
(a) An officer or employee of a political subdivision may not spend or authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising.
(b) This section does not apply to a communication that factually describes the purposes of a measure if the communication does not advocate passage or defeat of the measure.
(c) A person who violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Every point of the law above has been violated by officers and employees during the campaign leading up to the December 6 election and as such, charges and convictions should follow, no matter how apparently small the crime looks, it is still a crime and the guilty ARE CRIMINALS!

Taking section "(b) This section does not apply to a communication that factually describes the purposes of a measure," we submit the following evidence.
evidence-lying chart
You will of course note the criminally altered enrollment for year "02-'03 given at 1,343.  The factual figure is 1,260 and no amount of "oops we goofed" is believable.  DON'T BS US! The Belligerent Socialites running the show have been spouting off about growth, growTH, GROWTH for many years, and many bond elections.  It has been the central "claimed" issue for decades.  THIS was NO goof!  The Borrow and Spend mindset knew what they were doing.  This "juiced up" criminal figure appears only in this expensive, 2-color, slick glossy flyer, criminally printed and mailed to all district  residents at taxpayer expense in school envelopes.  The factual 1,260 appears in all "Official" reports to the State of Texas including the Texas Education Agency, and even in a curiously similar looking chart on their website.  [If you care enough to study the facts, the T.E.A. link above provides a wealth of information that the Bolshevik Socialists don't want you to know.]

Of course, when a Beguiling Super lies to the State and the T.E.A. it can get him in serious hot water... might even be a career ending dip.  But lying to the home folk?  That's been as safe as stealing candy from a baby whose narcissistic parents have abandoned it on the street corner.

Evidence of more criminal acts will be forthcoming, as we promised, and will further prove the willingness of some local B.S.ers to embrace evil.  It is EVIL, as well as un-American, un-Patriotic, immoral and un-Christian to stoop low enough to steal elections and rob neighbors.

The forceful confrontation of Evil is often what is needed to break through to very prideful people.  C.S. Lewis wrote; "...the utmost evil, is Pride. ... it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. ... As long as you are proud you can not know God. ... For Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.  ... How is it that people who are quite obviously eaten up with Pride can say they believe in God ... ? ...I am afraid it means they are worshiping an imaginary God. ... I suppose it was of those people Christ was thinking when He said; 'I never knew you.'  And any of us may at any moment be in this death-trap."  Lastly, it should be reposted here: Evil deeds are done by evil people. 1Sa 24:13. Once you are convicted of that truth, there is hope. May we here at "DontBS.us" serve HIM to help convict your spirit.

MORE CRIMINAL EVIDENCE TO COME . . . STAY TUNED.
Texas State Rep. Kuempel on BALLOT BOX STUFFING;
"I agree the possibility of abuse is dangerous."

The following is a recent exchange of  emails between our Texas State Representative, Edmund Kuempel, and one of our citizens on  the  ballot Box "Stuffing" issue raised by this site.

Honorable Rep. Kuempel,
The website, "www.DontBS.us" is reporting; "For some years
now, our school elections have been skewed by carrying the
ballot boxes around and setting them up at various "special"
events." Will you please inform me of, or direct me to,
where I can find the law and history of the legislative
process of this.
Thank you in advance.
[Citizen]
 
I took a look at the website and would be curious to know in what school district this is occurring. I have never witnessed or heard of such a practice. Texas law is very specific in its requirements for polling times, dates and locations. The law on local school board elections is identical to that for all other state, county and local races. These requirements can all be found in Title 4. Texas Election Code. The Code can be found on the web at www.capitol.state.tx.us .
Sincerely,
Edmund Kuempel


Honorable Rep. Kuempel,
I have searched out ... the Law on this subject. It appears to be in Title 7, Chapter 85 of the Election Code [below]. It looks like the website, "www.DontBS.us" nailed this one ... To answer your question, my family is in the Navarro I.S.D., and I have heard of this practice here for many years though I doubt, after reading the law, that the same practice is not being used in every school district in the state. I wonder if our State office holders foresaw how this would be used to manipulate particularly public school bond elections? How can it be considered fair and "above board" to give a group of voters known to be highly pro-bond [that is parents of school age, particularly younger, children] even MORE opportunities to vote when most of them already frequent the school/voting area many times during the early voting period?
I hope you will have time to answer my questions and share your thoughts
Thank you in advance.
[Citizen]

§ 85.062.  TEMPORARY BRANCH POLLING PLACE.
    (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e), one or more early voting polling places other than the main early voting polling place may be established by:
        (1)  the commissioners court, for an election in which the county clerk is the early voting clerk;  or
        (2)  the governing body of the political subdivision served by the authority ordering the election, for an election in which a person other than the county clerk is the early voting clerk.
    (b)  A polling place established under this section may be located, subject to Subsection (d), at any place in the territory served by the early voting clerk and may be located in any stationary structure as directed by the authority establishing the branch office.  The polling place may be located in a movable structure in the general election for state and county officers, general primary election, or runoff primary election.  Ropes or other suitable objects may be used at the polling place to ensure compliance with Section 62.004.  Persons who are not expressly permitted by law to be in a polling place shall be excluded from the polling place to the extent practicable.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, § 1.11, 1.12;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, § 35, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1350, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1381, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

§ 85.065.  DAYS AND HOURS FOR VOTING:  TEMPORARY BRANCH IN LESS POPULOUS COUNTY.
    (a)  This section applies only to an election in which the territory served by the early voting clerk is situated in a county with a population under 100,000. In an election in which the territory served by the clerk is situated in more than one county, this section applies if the sum of the populations of the counties is under 100,000.
    (b)  Voting at a temporary branch polling place may be conducted on any one or more days and during any hours of the period for early voting by personal appearance, as determined by the authority establishing the branch.  The authority authorized under Section 85.006 to order early voting on a Saturday or Sunday may also order, in the manner prescribed by that section, early voting to be conducted on a Saturday or Sunday at any one or more of the temporary branch polling places.
    (c)  The schedules for conducting voting are not required to be uniform among the temporary branch polling places.


You are correct. That is the law on this issue, and I appreciate you calling it to my attention. You are the first person that has contacted me about additional voting places being a problem. After your last note, I contacted a local election administrator to gauge the extent of the problem. You are also correct that it is used most often by school districts, especially for bond elections. ...
We hesitate to absolutely forbid additional locations because the legislature is interested in giving as many people as possible the opportunity to vote. When done correctly it can be a legitimate practice, however, I agree the possibility of abuse is dangerous. I look for additional changes in the future to curb this practice. 
Again, I appreciate you calling this to my attention. I will certainly keep this on my radar screen.
Sincerely,
Edmund Kuempel


DontBS.us says; The good people of Texas are very interested in "giving as many people as possible the opportunity to vote".  Maybe our legislators should consider having the ballot boxes carried door to door like the Fuller Brush salesman of old. Or maybe we could contract with the Jehovah Witnesses, who never seem to miss anyone.  It is shamefully obvious that our school districts are NOT interested in Justice. They are interested in "JUST US!"  They want as many Borrow and Spend people as possible to vote!  These Machiavellian Bandits and Snakes are only interested in "Kingdom Building,"  and to them, the "end justifies any means."

People - contact your Texas State Representative and Senator and let them know this abuse of democracy must not stand!  For this area: e-mail:EDMUND.KUEMPEL@house.state.tx.us  &  e-mail:jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx.us
SHAME ON YOU!
SHAME ON ALL OF US!

"...[M]uch to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass." --George Washington

Does the saying, "Turning over in his grave come to mind"?  It SHOULD!

We have all had a hand in turning this great nation away from the clear path this "Father of our Nation" and his brave countrymen set it upon. Whether our hands are "on the wheel" of this mighty "ship" or we stand with them in our pockets, we are guilty! An honest study (which is not possible with the lying textbooks pushed on our children) of these mighty men, our forefathers, make the best of us look like Bad Seeds!

What was President Washington saying by; "neglect the means?" At a minimum, he was referring to the process by which the people of this new nation would govern themselves into the future . . . ELECTION PROCESS!  We have neglected the process for sure with a shameful average of only 3% of the qualified voters actually deciding the outcome, and thereby running the school.  This writer cringes every time, regardless of the outcome, to see their post-election marquee proclaim their belief that 3% equals "support and confidence" from the community. Though the recent numbers are rising, due largely to what we are calling ballot Box "Stuffing," the percentage is still dismal.

BALLOT BOX STUFFING
Fact: For some years now, our school elections have been skewed by carrying the ballot boxes around and setting them up at various "special" events. This has resulted in the biggest Borrow & Spend bond-letting [blood-letting] by government schools in Texas state history. Since the government school runs the election process, and invariably wants every Budget Sinking, Borrow & Spend, Big School  bond election to pass, where do you think these boxes show up? The elementary school award ceremonies and concerts are likely spots.  The manipulation of our treasured election process by these mere hirelings is SHAMEFUL! The REAL majority  will rarely vote themselves a tax increase, and these hirelings know it, so they have been "stuffing" ballot boxes to "steal" their victory.  Shame on You!

Already quite favorable to the idea of spending other people's money on their own children, who will be reaping the benefits the longest, most elementary school parents don't need convincing, JUST CONVENIENCE! And these hirelings know just how to provide it. If there is even a shred of conscience in the parent's mind, who could resist when little Johnny beams after being pinned with a blue ribbon, or Mary from the applause after her presentation? We will grant ignorance to some parents, though--as the police officer will tell you--ignorance is no excuse. Some of these parents are very young, and have lived with "convenience" elevated to near deity for their entire life. Maybe some think that THIS "convenience" is offered to every demographic group, but more likely, they just don't think!

The very FACT that this "convenience" is not made available and logistically cannot be made available to every group equally may be the "silver lining in this dark cloud" of  shameful election tactics. If you don't have a child in elementary school, just try to "crash the party" in order to cast your vote in one of these floating ballot boxes. Hopefully, brave patriots empowered by the immorality of this injustice, and an army of angry voters will soon confront this evil, and stop this abuse of our cherished democratic process. If not, what could we see next, the return of the poll tax?

I wish I had captured a local man's face on film when he first heard about this; a man who was born and raised in this district, and graduated from this school, and said he; "votes in every election."  This man who is normally quite reserved was visibly shocked and expressed first disbelief, and then betrayal.  And BETRAYAL is EXACTLY what this is. This goes way beyond neglecting the process that President Washington warned of; this is ballot Box Stuffing, and this is wrong!

So how did this evil come upon us? Two words come to mind. We're Busy, then Snoring. Shame on Us!

We think this BS also qualifies for Deceit and Voter Fraud, but unfortunately, there is more BS to report in those categories. Stay tuned . . .