More than 100K North Carolina teachers raise concerns in statewide survey

The survey, conducted by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, found many educators are satisfied with their schools overall, but some say increasing workloads and staffing shortages are creating challenges inside classrooms.

In New Hanover County, more than 1,700 teachers participated in the survey. Around half of respondents said the district is a good place to work and learn, while nearly 30% reported they do not have enough non-instructional planning time.

“It’s definitely a big hardship,” said Lisa Espy, a high school counselor and vice president of the New Hanover County Association of Educators.

Espy said many educators routinely work far beyond the standard school day.

“It’s IEP meetings, 504 meetings, intervention meeting that you’re having because we’re trying to do things to make sure we can give kids what they need to survive, parents phone calls, planning the lesson and making sure you have the photocopying done to have the materials ready for the lesson, and then grading, so easily I know teachers are putting in 70 hours a week,” Espy said.

The survey also identified tardiness and skipping class as major student behavior concerns among teachers in the district.

Espy said staffing shortages remain one of the biggest challenges schools face, particularly when it comes to counselors and social workers.

“So if I’m at a school of 600 kids, there should be a full time and a part time counselor. And then in addition to having a social worker, that’s not happening,” she said.

She added that without adequate staffing, some students may not receive the support they need both academically and emotionally.

Survey results also showed about half of teachers believe students come to school with their basic needs met, while roughly one-quarter said students do not.

“One of the biggest things I think is humans,” Espy said. “I know that curriculum is really important, extremely important. But for us, just having people.”

On Tuesday, the New Hanover County Board of Education approved a proposed budget of more than $330 million for the 2026-27 school year. The plan includes requests for increased funding from both county and state leaders.

“Do we need that additional $960,000? Sure, and we need an additional $5 million more,” said Superintendent Dr. Christopher Barnes.

The discussion over school funding comes as educators across North Carolina continue pushing for higher pay and more classroom support. More than 10,000 teachers rallied in Raleigh last week calling for increased education funding and salary improvements.

While some critics point to teachers having summers off, Espy said many educators work second jobs during summer break to make ends meet.

“I work at the YMCA every single summer,” she said. “And it’s not like part time. They’re working full time, 40 hour a week jobs during the summer to make it.”

The district’s legislative committee is also expected to vote on a legislative workday next school year that would allow teachers to speak directly with county representatives about additional school funding.