A new survey from the Southern Regional Education Board shows teacher pay in Louisiana ranks 12th of 16 states in the South. According to the SREB report, the average salary for Louisiana teachers is $51,566, while the regional average is $55,205. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says it’s important to keep raising teacher pay.
“I think it keeps us competitive if we can get that gap closed because teachers are leaving Louisiana, going to Texas, going to other neighboring states seeking higher pay,” said Carter.
Carter says it will be up to the governor, state lawmakers and educators to work together to see that the state allocates the additional state funding.
And while what educators earn is obviously important to them, Carter says teachers surveyed didn’t rank pay as the most important issue. He says, “First was being heard and listened to when it comes to educational decision making.”
As for the pay issue, Governor John Bel Edwards has a goal of seeing that teacher pay in Louisiana climbs to the regional average before his second term ends in January 2024.
Comments