TO THE EDITOR:

Last week was Teacher Appreciation week and I thank our teachers past and present in Carteret and Jones counties and around the state. I thank them for their dedication to educating our children and for the many sacrifices they endure along the way.

We all have fond memories of teachers who have made an impact on our lives. Our teachers today have an especially difficult job because so much more is required of them than ever before.

I especially thank our teachers here in Carteret and Jones counties who are not leaving their classroom responsibilities to protest in Raleigh Wednesday. Thank you for caring more about your students than yourself. I am saddened that schools in Wake County, Winston-Salem and Durham are closing so teachers can protest. Parents are having to find babysitters or miss work and lose a day of pay so that their teachers can protest. Our teachers and school personnel have put children and families first by not closing. Thank you for that selfless action.

Under Republican leadership we have not only talked the talk but we have walked the walk to show our appreciation to our teachers and school personnel. Here are some facts sent to me by our leadership:

North Carolina ranked #1 in the U.S. for fastest rising teacher pay in 2017 according to the National Education Association, and according to the NEA North Carolina ranked #2 in the U.S. for fastest rising teacher pay in 2018.

In 2018, North Carolina teachers will receive their fifth consecutive raise from Republican leaders in the state General Assembly.

The average raise for our teachers from 2017-19 will be $4,412. The average raise for North Carolina teachers over the last five years is $8,600, a 19.1% increase.

Due to this string of salary increases, a 6th year North Carolina teacher will earn $9,200 more in the 2018-2019 school year than in their first year of teaching in 2013, a 29.9% increase.

In 2018, a fifth consecutive pay raise will be provided to North Carolina teachers.

A teacher with five years of experience will earn $9,200 more in 2018-19 than the same teacher in 2013-14, from $30,800 to $40,000, a 29.9% increase.

A teacher with 12 years of experience will earn $15,330 more in 2018-19 than that teacher did in 2013-14, from $31,670 to $47,000, a 48% increase.

A teacher with 16 years of experience will earn $11,840 more in 2018-19 than the same teacher did in 2013-14, from $38,160 to $50,000, a 31% increase.

A teacher with 25 years of experience will earn $9,040 more in 2018-19 than they did in 2013-14, from $42,260 to $51,300, a 21.4% increase.

Other bonus programs and compensation incentives for North Carolina teachers:

• Teacher Assistant Tuition Reimbursement

• Initial Teacher Licensing Fee Reimbursement

• Future Teachers of North Carolina

• Supplements for Highly Qualified Graduates

• Advanced Teaching Roles Pilot Program

• New Teacher Support Program

• Highly qualified Teacher Salary Supplements

• 3rd Grade Reading Bonuses

• AP/IB/CTE Bonuses

• 4th-8th Reading/Math Bonuses

• Veteran teacher bonuses

• New Teaching Fellows Program

The average teacher pay in North Carolina is now $50,000, well over the state’s average income, and starting teacher pay is now $35,000.

Consider that Democrats froze teacher pay in 2009 and called for furloughs of teachers and other state employees.

These facts should drive the conversation about properly compensating teachers for their immeasurable contribution to educating the future of North Carolina.

Under Republican leadership, the N.C. General Assembly has committed to a teacher appreciation agenda that delivered five consecutive pay raise to teachers and led the nation in salary growth the last two years.

Teachers are taxpayers too and we have reduced personal income taxes an average of 20% — more money in their pockets.

We still have work to do with senior teachers’ pay, principals’ pay and keeping up with inflation for all our teachers, but we are making education a priority.

Please take the time to say thank you to every teacher you come in contact with all year long.

My sincere appreciation to all teachers and school personnel. Thank you so very much.

Rep. PAT McELRAFT

N.C. House District 13 Jones and Carteret Counties