NC leaders pledge more pay for new teachers; veteran teachers left waiting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — For months north carolina teachers have been wearing Red for Ed. Today the governor and other top leaders promised more green for new teachers.

At a news conference this morning in Jamestown, Gov. Pat McCrory vowed to increase first-year pay for teachers and invest in education. McCrory and legislative leaders say they will commit about $200 million over the next two years to raise pay for starting teachers. The plan would bump the pay from about $31,000 to $35,000.

“When I entered the private sector, I learned that investments are needed for results to occur,” McCrory said. “Right now, in the past six years or so, North Carolina has not made the needed investments in its teachers.”

The goal is to keep good young teachers in the classroom, but one local educator says the raise does not fix the problem with veteran teacher pay.

“Every single person who is watching us right now has had a teacher impact their lives,” Murray Middle School teacher Chris Meek said. “To think that those teachers now are not living to the standard that perhaps our viewers are is immoral.”

Meek encourages both teachers and parents around the Tar Heel State to call their legislators and voice their concern with teacher pay.

The agreement has a strong chance of becoming law because of the Republican majority in Raleigh.