JAMESTOWN – Governor Pat McCrory Tuesday outlined what he wants the legislature to do about teacher pay, including a plan that would raise the average teacher pay to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history. The state’s largest teacher group is already criticizing the plan, saying it is not enough and adds they are not optimistic the legislature will actually do what McCrory wants.

On a visit to his alma mater at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, Governor McCrory announced his proposal to provide an average 5 percent pay increase. Governor McCrory revealed that his budget will build on investments the state has made in teachers since 2013 to recruit and retain the best and the brightest educators.

“Two years ago, when I announced a significant teacher pay raise plan right here at Ragsdale, I promised that we would not stop there,” said Governor McCrory in a press release. “Today, I am following through on that promise and introducing an aggressive educationSave budget that will bring average teacher pay to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history.”

When considering health and retirement benefits offered to every full-time teacher in our state, the governor’s proposed teacher pay increase will bring average teacher compensation to more than $66,000.

The Governor’s office pointed out that since McCrory took office, North Carolina has committed over $1 billion more for teacher pay through his first term, thanks in part to the largest average teacher pay increase in the country. This includes both increased base pay for early career educators and advancing teachers more quickly along the pay scale.

But, there a critical response in a statement issued from North Carolina Association of Educators Mark Jewell:

“Once again there is no long-range plan to elevate public school educators to the head of the class, only election year proposals that do little to make up for years of disrespecting the education profession and dismantling our public schools. It also leaves education support professionals with nothing. There is a reason educator turnover rates are at historic levels. The governor has a track record of signing whatever the Legislature sends him, even if it’s a budget that ends up making North Carolina the second worst for teachers in America.”

The Governor’s plan also addresses key areas, among them:  respecting and rewarding teachers, recruiting new teachers, modernizing classrooms, expanding opportunity for special needs students, boosting community college graduation and expanding college access.

Governor McCrory will release more details of his teacher pay plan and education investments when he unveils his budget proposal later this month.