"... The NEA report notes that nationwide teacher salaries are expected to grow an average just 1.9 percent this school year. But in Florida they are not expected to grow at all. In fact, the union projects a decline.

Though that expected decline is tiny, the Sunshine State is the only one of 50 where that’s predicted. So on that ranking we’re No. 1, it seems. ..."

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http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_educ...union-says.html

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Fl falls in teacher salary rank (and should fall again this year), union says

posted by lesliepostal on February, 3 2010 4:38 PM

An annual ranking of public school teachers’ salaries by state shows Florida at No. 35 — down from 28 the previous year, according to the report by the National Education Association released Monday.

Florida was ranked 28th, 29th or 31st each of the last five years but then dropped in the 2008-09 school year – meaning more states gave their teachers higher pay, the teacher’s union report found.

Florida’s average teacher salary last year was $46,921, compared to a national average of $54,319.

Though cost of living obviously varies across the country — is it any surprise New York and California have the highest teacher salaries? — Florida’s teachers earned less than their counterparts in other Southern states. Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina all paid teachers more, on average.

The NEA report notes that nationwide teacher salaries are expected to grow an average just 1.9 percent this school year. But in Florida they are not expected to grow at all. In fact, the union projects a decline.

Though that expected decline is tiny, the Sunshine State is the only one of 50 where that’s predicted. So on that ranking we’re No. 1, it seems.

Nationwide, the NEA said, inflation in many places has outpaced growth in teachers salaries during the past decade, giving teachers a “pay cut” of sorts.

“Public schoolteachers across the nation are continuing to lose spending power for themselves and their families in an already struggling economy,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “We need to compensate teachers fairly for the work they do.”

“How can we recruit and retain quality teachers for our students if we don’t pay them what they’re worth?” said Van Roekel. “Professional work deserves professional pay.”

You can find the “Rankings and Estimates: Rankings of the States 2009 and Estimates of School Statistics 2010″ here. There are also similar reports from past years.