Following the release of the National Education Association teacher pay ranking, the education establishment in a number of states began pushing for hefty increases in teacher pay. Eyeing a state budget surplus, the Georgia Association of Educators has recently asked their legislature for a six percent pay increase, even though they have the highest pay in the Southeast.
According to an article in the Athens Banner-Herald, Jeff Hubbard, president of GAE, claims that salaries in states like North Carolina are gaining on Georgia’s lead. The NEA ranking shows that North Carolina has an average salary that is $4,000 less than Georgia’s average. Busted.
The article also mentions my teacher pay piece, which showed that Georgia had the highest adjusted teacher salary in the U.S. This prompted Sonny Perdue’s office to defend my research. Heather Hedrick, Perdue’s press secretary said, “Any comparison of salaries without taking into account (the) cost of living is not a true and accurate comparison.” Busted.
The revision of the report, due out in due time, will show that Georgia now has the second highest adjusted teacher salary in the U.S. – Illinois will take the lead. This should not discourage our friends at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation from going after the GAE like rabid jackals.
