‘I’m tired;’ Thousands of NC teachers gather in Raleigh, calling for higher pay and school funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WWAY) — Thousands of teachers from across North Carolina, including many from the Cape Fear region, gathered in Raleigh on Friday for a large-scale walkout demanding increased funding for public education.

Educators filled Halifax Mall near the state Capitol, chanting and holding signs as they called on lawmakers to approve a new state budget with higher teacher pay.

The North Carolina Association of Educators says teachers in the state earn about $16,000 less than the national average, and North Carolina ranks 46th in the nation for educator compensation.

The state has not passed a new budget since 2023. The association is urging the General Assembly to adopt a plan that includes a 21% increase in teacher pay.

Earlier this week, the group filed the “Kids Over Corporations Act,” also known as Senate Bill 943, which it says would halt certain corporate tax cuts and generate roughly $3 billion annually for public schools.

“This campaign is not just talk, we got stuff to do,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the NCAE.

At the rally, several educators and school staff shared personal stories about financial strain and staffing shortages.

“One teacher as of two weeks ago had to leave, eat dinner in her car and drive to her second job, get off at 10 o’clock and then grade homework — I’m tired,” said Daniel Webb, a custodian at Williston Middle School.

Austin Hinson, a band and orchestra teacher at Williston Middle School and New Hanover High School, said he is concerned about the impact of funding levels on arts programs.

“Band teachers are being forced to teach band and orchestra, a lot of orchestra teachers are being pushed out of the profession entirely,” Hinson said.

Gov. Josh Stein has proposed an 11% raise, while the state House has suggested an 8.7% increase and the Senate has proposed a 3.3% boost.

In a statement to WWAY, Rep. Michael Lee said he supports increasing teacher pay but criticized the walkout.

“I have supported teacher pay increases. That said, I do not support today’s walkout. When teachers walk out on students, it makes the job of advocating for continued pay increases harder, not easier,” Lee said.

Rep. Deb Butler voiced support for the demonstration.

“I fully support their rally and hope that Republican leadership stops their infighting to do their job, to pass a budget that lifts public educators. It’s an emergency,” Butler said.

Participants said the rally was about more than pay, pointing to broader concerns about staffing shortages and working conditions.

“I’m tired, but I’m tired enough to do something about it,” Webb said.