TEACHERS: A glimpse at reality

Reading all the comments to the article about Coeur d’Alene district negotiations is infuriating. Apparently, people think that educators have cushy jobs, with long paid vacations, and should be like Walmart workers who got a $1 raise.

No one seems to complain about the salaries that doctors, dentists and lawyers earn. Walmart workers are not required to have master’s degrees. You probably don’t want to go to a doctor, dentist or lawyer who doesn’t keep up with the latest research, techniques and practices.

So, to set the record straight:

I am REQUIRED to have a master’s degree in school counseling to do my job. I have a total of three degrees: B.S. in social science, M.ED in school counseling (52 graduate credits) and an M.ED in educational leadership (32 graduate credits). I still owe $60,000 in student loans. My salary is based on 210 days of work. My total yearly salary is divided by 12 months, that is how I get a paycheck over the summer.

In order to maintain my licenses, I am required to complete six graduate credits, every five years, at my own expense. Graduate classes typically cost $500 per credit. Each graduate credit requires 15 hours of “seat time.” Sometimes we can pay for one professional development credit by attending a two-day conference, at our own expense, plus the cost of the credit ($50-$150). The school district does not reimburse any of those expenses.

The district does not give any salary movement after you reach 70 credits above the bachelor’s degree. There is also no salary movement for more than 15 years of experience with the district.

I have worked in four different school districts, in nine different buildings, in which none of them had fancy lounges. The current break room has our mailboxes, a refrigerator donated by the PTA, a microwave and an old cafeteria table. I usually eat at my desk, while reading my email, so that I can try to stay caught up, even though I’m entitled to a 30-minute duty-free lunch.

I could do a better job serving my students and families if the district provided clerical support to cover all of the non-counseling duties that are assigned to us.

When you hear people saying educators shouldn’t ask for any cost of living raises, and that we have cushy jobs, with fancy benefits, could you please help set the record straight for us? We could also use your support at the public negotiations.

KELLI AIKEN

Coeur d’Alene