Show our teacher appreciation through our actions
Commentary published May 9, Orlando Sentinel
by: Clinton McCracken
Public education is a foundation of our community. It is what gives every child a fair shot, and it works because of the educators who show up every day to make that opportunity real.
As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, it matters that educators hear words of gratitude. They deserve to hear that they are valued, that they are making a difference, and that their work matters. Those messages mean something. But appreciation is not only what we say. It is also what we do.
True appreciation is reflected in how we treat our teachers and in the decisions we make that impact their lives and their classrooms. It is seen in whether educators can afford to stay in the profession they love and continue serving our students. Right now, the foundation of public education is under enormous strain.
Our teachers are making an impact every day while working with increasing local demands, rising expectations, and with less state funding. Just last week, new national data confirmed what educators here already know: Florida ranks 50th in the nation in average teacher pay for the third year in a row.
At the same time, we are seeing real consequences of underfunding across our district. Schools are being closed. SAFE Coordinator positions, often the first person a student in crisis seeks out, are being eliminated from every middle and high school. Hundreds of teachers are being non-reappointed due to budget cuts, creating uncertainty for educators, students, and families.
And while this is happening, the district has proposed a salary increase of less than 1% paired with health-insurance cost increases of more than 400% for some employees. That is not a raise. For many educators who are already struggling financially, it would be a significant pay cut.
We are told there is no money. But budgets are choices. There are many factors contributing to the financial challenges we face. Tallahassee continues to underfund public education. The expansion of vouchers is diverting resources away from neighborhood schools. The $119 million Disney lawsuit. Enrollment shifts, including the loss of immigrant families, also impact funding. Those are real challenges, but they are not the only explanation. Local decisions about how resources are prioritized matter just as much.
We have been pressing the District and the School Board to explain why the entire one mill referendum is being used to support the general budget instead of allocating a portion directly to increasing teacher pay. Other districts in Florida with a referendum have structured their budgets so that those funds can meaningfully increase educator pay. Orange County should be able to do the same.
A budget is a reflection of priorities. If we truly value public education, we must fund our future. If we value our educators, we must invest in them. If we value our students, we must ensure the adults in front of them each day are supported, respected, and able to focus on teaching.
So say thank you and share your appreciation. Recognize the incredible difference teachers make every day. Then show it by ensuring educators can pay their bills, by considering the union’s cost saving solutions to provide affordable healthcare, by respecting teachers as professionals, and by making decisions that allow teachers to stay in the classroom and do what they love.
Because appreciation is strongest when our actions match our words. If we want to keep the promise of public education, we must fund our future.