Teaching Profession

Embarrassment—or Full Disclosure?

By Jessica L. Tonn — March 06, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Few workers would want to have their salary information posted online. But some teachers in West Virginia say it might not be that bad.

“It couldn’t really hurt us, if people see how much we make,” said Jennifer Wood, a spokeswoman for the 7,000-member AFT-West Virginia, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, which is lobbying the state legislature to raise teacher pay.

Local newspapers have printed teachers’ names and salaries in the past, and talk of posting that information online has surfaced since State Auditor Glen B. Gainer III last month began listing the names and salaries of 65,000 state employees. The auditor’s Web site had more than a million hits within the first few days that the information was posted, according to Justin Southern, a spokesman for Mr. Gainer’s office.

But the list did not include teachers because they are considered county, rather than state, employees.

While Ms. Wood acknowledged that some teachers might feel uncomfortable if their salary information eventually is posted, she said that “a lot of teachers don’t have a problem with it because you can get [the information] already.”

Compared with state employees’ salaries, teachers’ salaries can be calculated easily, according to David Haney, the executive director of the West Virginia Education Association, a 17,000-member affiliate of the National Education Association. The public can determine a teacher’s pay by looking at county salary schedules, which are based on educational attainment and years worked, he said.

And while some teachers may be reluctant to see their salaries posted, it might not hurt their cause.

West Virginia ranks 36th in the nation for average teacher pay and 40th for beginning-teacher salaries, according to the Education Counts database, produced by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center.

Union officials argue that a pay increase would slow the flow of teachers leaving for higher-paying jobs in the private sector or leaving the state to teach elsewhere.

For example, teachers in the state’s eastern panhandle can drive across the border and make up to $20,000 more per year teaching in northern Virginia than in West Virginia, according to both Mr. Haney and Ms. Wood.

“We’re talking about a 15-minute commute,” she said.

A version of this article appeared in the March 07, 2007 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession How Can Schools Get More Men to Be Teachers? Look to Nursing for What Works
More men are becoming nurses—offering some lessons for K-12 education.
6 min read
Male teacher figures winding their way down a career path to the entrance of a school.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Teaching Profession Three Tips to Help Mentors Work Better With Teachers
A great mentor can help novice teachers progress in their first year and prevent burnout. Here's how to boost their relationships.
3 min read
Illustration of a diverse group of 7 professionals helping one another climb a succession of large bars with some using a ladder.
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Opinion The One Quality That Every Great Teacher Shares
A lot has changed during my two decades as a teacher, but one thing is just as true as it was on my first day.
Eduardo Barreto
3 min read
A man carrying a big stone. Concept art of problem solution and hardness. surreal painting. conceptual artwork. 3d illustration
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock
Teaching Profession What the Research Says Want Novices to Keep Teaching? Focus on Their Classroom-Management Skills
Some skills matter more than others for educator at the start of their careers.
3 min read
A black female teacher cheerfully answers questions and provides assistance to her curious and diverse group of adolescent students as they work on an assignment in class.
E+/Getty