Governor Cooper Proposes Plan to Raise NC Teacher Pay

CHARLOTTE, NC – Governor Roy Cooper is proposing an ambitious plan to raise teacher pay.
“We trust our teachers. It’s time to put our money where our trust is,” Cooper says.

The Governor wants to get North Carolina teacher salaries to the national average in five years.

“Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, have all gained great educators at our expense,” Cooper says.

At Collinswood Language Academy Monday, Cooper said his budget plan will include raising teacher salaries an average of five percent this year and another five percent next year.

That would come at a cost of $813 Million. The Governor says that would be the biggest investment in teacher pay in a decade.

“It helps financially, but it also helps with your morale,” says Rivergate Elementary 3rd Grade teacher Matthew Dukes.

He says the plan sends a strong message.

“Teachers do feel like they’ve kinda gotten a hit. In the pocketbook, of course, but with the respect part of it,” Dukes says.

Now the Governor will have to convince the Republican controlled legislature to make it happen.

“It’s going to require a lot of work,” says Democratic State Representative Mary Belk.

Belk says it could be a tough fight, but she believes support for improving teacher pay crosses party lines.

“We have to retain good teachers. And they can’t be teachers if they can’t make a living,” Belk says.

The Governor’s plan also calls for a $150 yearly stipend to help teachers with out-of-pocket school supply costs.