Survey Finds Little Pay Advantage for Principals

By Jeff Archer

Here's a trick question: If an experienced teacher makes $43,000, and a new administrator makes $43,700, who earns more? The administrator's income might seem slightly higher, but the teacher actually makes more per day, given that the former works 12 months a year, and the latter works 10.

That's the math problem Robert P. Grimesey faced when he became the superintendent of Virginia's Alleghany County schools last year. For the 46- year-old schools chief, the implication was clear: "The level of interest in serving as a future administrator was predictably low."

Administrator groups say the results of a national survey to be released this week show Alleghany County isn't the only place where the financial rewards for becoming an...