For second straight year, NC ranks as one of the worst states for teachers

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http://www.progressncaction.org/news/for-second-straight-year-nc-ranks-as-one-of-the-worst-states-for-teachers#skip

Worse than Mississippi: Ranking underscores that the promises and praise for teachers by North Carolina’s legislature and governor have basically added up to empty rhetoric and a record which lags almost every other U.S. state.

In a new ranking of the nation’s best and worst states to be a public school teacher, North Carolina ranks second from the bottom among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. While North Carolina ranked 50th (second from the bottom), Virginia ranked the second best state in which to work as a teacher. South Carolina was 46th. Tennessee was 34th. Texas, which has repeatedly held teacher job fairs in NC to lure away experienced educators with substantially better pay, ranked 26th.

The rankings by WalletHub, an online personal finance information clearinghouse, are based on public education investment and teacher salary statistics from 2014-15. The rankings do not factor in salary data from the 2015-16 state budget, which gives no permanent raise to veteran North Carolina teachers and offers only a one-time $750 bonus for the state’s most experienced K-12 educators. In this same survey last year, North Carolina ranked 51st - the dead last worst state in which to be a teacher.

What are North Carolina teachers saying about NC's ranking as the second worst state in which to be a public school teacher?

“NC education is in a state of crisis. If our education ranks almost last, so will eventually our students. That’s not fair to anyone: our educators, our students, our society.” - Ashlee Garrison, Cumberland Co. 2015-16 Teacher of Year

“It’s not surprising, just disappointing to continually be in this profession in this state.” - Mary Robinson, Pitt Co. teacher

“Until North Carolina is a better place to teach than its next door neighbors, nothing will ebb the flow of teachers leaving our state for better conditions.” - Dov Rosenberg, Durham Co. public school teacher

“This is no longer just about undervaluing teachers. It is about destroying the profession.” - Stacy Eleczko, Wake Co. public school teacher

“I worry about my 2-year-old granddaughter. Every teacher I speak with is extremely frustrated and overworked. I am afraid we will lose more of our brightest teachers.” - Dianne Jones, Wake Co. public school teacher

“I’m seriously not sure if I will teach through the remainder of this school year.” - Steven Grindstaff, Yancey Co. public school teacher

“With continually being devalued unless it’s an election year, we’ll assuredly stay at the bottom of the pack.” - Mary Robinson, Pitt Co. public school teacher