Terrell Teacher Salaries is Now Competitive with State Standards

In years past, the city of Terrell provides compensation to its teacher’s that is relatively low for Texas’ standards. Many probably consider being a teacher in Terrell isn’t as desirable as being a teacher in the other cities of the state. But in a recent survey conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards, Terrell has shown a rise in the average teacher’s wages by as much as 3.2 percent. Terrell is now up to par with the average teacher’s income in its state of Texas.

In Terrell, teachers with no prior experience can start with an annual salary of as much as $44,000. This is clearly superior when put side-by-side with the state-wide wage average of $35,000 for a new teacher. Terrell’s ISD superintendent Kelly Roger has noted that increasing income is their way of attracting teachers to carry out their careers in the city’s respective schools. He says that many may not be attracted by the city’s offered teaching opportunities because of the perceived low yearly earnings by the teachers. Teachers opt to teach elsewhere when salaries are low; thus the move to improve the teachers’ salary structure was put into effect. Rodgers also stated that Terrell usually bases its teachers’ salaries on the surrounding cities’ rates - they monitor the others’ numbers and make their own rates a bit higher compared to their neighboring areas.

Here is another fact that was uncovered in the survey – many other professionals experience less pay increments annually when compared with teachers. This information may sway more people into choosing a career in teaching.

Terrell’s superintendent noted that what they’re doing is just sort of an initial step. He says that attracting teachers and retaining them don’t always go hand in hand. Rodgers relates that salaries may not always be the problem; working conditions also play a huge role - and ensuring that teachers are satisfied with their working environments is not an easy task.

Terrell’s ISD has much work to do ahead of them. With the continuous developments of education locally or state-wide, they have to keep up with these changes in order to maintain their competitiveness.