Introduction to the Struggle
No matter where they work, just about every public school teacher in South Florida agrees on one thing: they are underpaid and overworked.
“In order to pay the bills, everybody has some sort of side hustle,” said Wyndi Fasciana, who teaches at Western High School in Davie.
The Reality of Teacher Salaries
Our NBC6 annual survey drew responses from nearly 1,400 teachers in Miami-Dade and Broward County. More than 99% said teachers are not paid fairly, and nearly 99% said they have concerns about the high cost of living in South Florida.
After 14 years teaching, Fasciana tutors students and tends bar on weekends to supplement her base salary.
“$52,000 a year and that roughly comes out to $900 a week,” Fasciana said.
Passion vs. Compensation
Every teacher we spoke to said the desire to inspire kids keeps them going. Nina Martinez and Michelle Lucas are veteran teachers who work at Hollywood Hills Elementary.
“I always have to tutor or pick up side jobs to be able to stay down here; it’s purely for the love of teaching that I stay in this profession,” Martinez said.
“It makes me feel undervalued,” Lucas said, speaking about the low salaries. “We’re expected to teach all of these kids more and more each year, and we always rise to the occasion, we get it done, and our paychecks never reflect the amount of work and effort we put in.”
The Multi-Job Reality
“I can’t keep doing this, as a teacher with 22 years experience, I shouldn’t have to work three jobs to pay for a starter home,” said Cypress Bay High School teacher LaDonna Van Buren.
She’s another one who works three jobs to make ends meet. So does Jordanna Egan, who teaches at Tropical Elementary School.
“They’re not respecting us as professionals if literally, I make the same exact money as a server working at night, it’s pretty sad,” Egan said.
Starting Salaries and Comparisons
Starting salary in Miami-Dade County Public Schools is $50,050. In Broward County Public Schools, it’s $51,402. Those numbers are augmented by the voter-approved referendums in each county, which make starting take-home pay closer to $60,000, which is higher than most of Florida. However, that’s a low bar, considering Florida is ranked 49th in the nation for average teacher pay, according to the National Education Association.
Migration for Better Opportunities
In our survey, 96% said they have colleagues who have moved out of South Florida to make a better living, teachers like Melissa Falkowski.
“As a 21-year veteran teacher, my base salary in Broward was $56,000,” Falkowski said.
So after spending her entire career at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, she packed up her things and moved to Washington State.
“This year, I’m gonna make $135-thousand teaching, which is incredible and the cost of living in the county where we’re living is about 20% less than Broward,” Falkowski said.
Nearly 86% of teachers in our survey said they’re considering following in Falkowski’s footsteps.
“If you’re a professional that went to school for four years and then you got a master’s degree on top of that, you should not have to have a roommate to survive, you should not have to work three jobs to survive, and that is reality of teachers in South Florida,” Falkowski said.
Conclusion
The struggle of South Florida teachers to make ends meet is a stark reality that affects not just their personal lives but also the education system as a whole. With low salaries and a high cost of living, many are forced to take on side hustles or consider moving to other states for better opportunities. It’s crucial for policymakers and the community to address these issues to ensure that teachers are valued and compensated fairly for their work.
FAQs
Q: What percentage of teachers in the survey said they are not paid fairly?
A: More than 99% of the teachers in the survey said they are not paid fairly.
Q: What is the starting salary for teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools?
A: The starting salary in Miami-Dade County Public Schools is $50,050.
Q: Why are some teachers considering moving out of South Florida?
A: Many teachers are considering moving out of South Florida due to the high cost of living and low salaries, seeking better opportunities in other states.
Q: What percentage of teachers in the survey have colleagues who have moved out of South Florida for better living?
A: 96% of the teachers in the survey said they have colleagues who have moved out of South Florida for better living.
Q: How does Florida rank in terms of average teacher pay in the nation?
A: Florida is ranked 49th in the nation for average teacher pay, according to the National Education Association.
