When I came back as a “new” teacher twenty years ago for my second tenure in NC, Phil Berger was not in power. And as a “new” teacher the following was freely given to new teachers as part of the agreement to be employed by the state of North Carolina:
- A salary schedule that had step increases for every year of service.
- The opportunity to receive due-process rights when I had obtained a continuing certificate after three successful years of teaching.
- A schedule that included a seven period day with two planning periods and five classes that were capped in size.
- Graduate degree pay as I had obtained my masters degree.
- Health benefits as a retiree if I retired as a teacher in NC.
- All money paid by the state to pursue National Boards.
- Paid professional development from the state as it was in the budget.
- The opportunity to receive longevity pay after 10 years of service like other state employees.
- The absence of a school performance grading system that weighs test scores over student growth.
- The knowledge that all monies designated for public education was actually going to public schools.
If I was to become a new teacher in 2025 with years of Berger and the NCGA GOP with all of their “reforms,” how many of those would be available to me now?
None.
If NC restored what teachers used to automatically gain as being professional educators in public schools there would be no need for recruitment efforts such as this:
