I have had some connection to teachers most of my adult life.  I have had teachers close to me.  I have relatives currently in the teaching profession.

I have had a special feeling for people choosing the career of fashioning the next generation.  If you think back to your K-12 education days, I am certain several teachers come to mind when reminiscing about that time with a major influence on your life and career choices.

I want to look at two situations with today’s teachers.  First, what is COVID doing with the teaching profession?

I have covered the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board for nearly nine years and cannot remember a time like this.  The novel coronavirus has impacted the local teaching staff to such an extent that our classes are being held virtually because there are not enough healthy adults, or not ordered into quarantine for exposure to COVID, to staff the classrooms.  There are not enough substitute teachers to keep the classrooms staffed in person.

I have talked to a number of local teachers and they will all tell you this has been a major challenge for them.  Their work load and stress level have gone through the roof this school year.  It is not just teachers, students and parents have had their share of stress, but the teaching staff is enduring extra stress and work load issues in a profession that is stressful and difficult in the best of circumstances.

So, if we ever have the community celebration I suggested in a previous post on this blog, teachers need to be honored right along with all the others in helping the community survive the pandemic.

I have heard anecdotal evidence that many teachers, nearing their goal of retirement, have chosen to retire early due to the stresses of instructing in the COVID era.  I am also hearing that there are teachers simply leaving the profession for another line of work as the stress levels and work loads mount during COVID.

This is a time I would hope everyone in the local community, parents and others, do something to let our local teaching staff know we care about them.  It could be something small like a note or e-mail of encouragement.  Just let them know how much we, as a community, value their toil.

The second issue relating to teachers is the recent report issued by the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission.  This group was formed by Governor Holcomb when teacher pay and overall compensation became a major issue at the Statehouse, including a march of teachers from throughout the state one year ago, demonstrating for a better pay plan.  State lawmakers have a major say in how much money local school boards have available to compensate their teaching staffs.

The entire commission report is 182 pages.  If you want to read the entire document, it can be downloaded at this link.

In a nutshell, the report provides suggestions on how the state can create ways for local school boards to save money through efficiencies, in areas such as procuring health insurance coverage and prescription drug benefits.  But the most important recommendation is that state legislators shell out an additional $600 million to compensate the state’s teachers.

The commission found the average teacher salary in the state is about $53,000.  Commission members want that figure to rise, to $60,000.

The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) is behind the $600 million in extra funding, but is worried that local school boards could move toward decreasing teachers health insurance benefits under this scenario.  ISTA is also concerned that state lawmakers would enact the cost saving measures and not fund the extra $600 million in the commission report.

Keep in mind that teachers are highly-educated individuals.  Most end up with a masters degree after in the profession a few years.  These teachers can find employment elsewhere, often making much more money than our local school boards can provide.

This commission report compared Indiana’s teacher compensation package to those offered by our surrounding states.  If all the recommendations are enacted, the commission report says the pay recommendation would put Indiana as “the third-highest average salary level in the Midwest.”

We need to thank our teachers and we need to advocate for a better compensation package.  Local communities are often judged by the quality of the public schools.  The HSE Schools, the 4th-largest school district in Indiana based on student population, has a quality reputation.

The only way that reputation can be maintained and enhanced is through providing a quality community for students, parents and teachers….and compensating teachers reasonably.

Every teacher I have known has said to me, just pay me fairly and I will remain here and remain a teacher.  They don’t want to be the best paid in the state necessarily, they just want a wage sufficient to support themselves and their families.

Teachers are so important.  Give them some love as Christmas break is on the way.  Advocate for their fair compensation.  It is the least we can all do.