Atlanta Public Schools seeks to raise teacher pay next year

ATLANTA — School is out for the summer, but when the bell rings in the fall, Georgia teachers will make more money than ever. This follows several pay increases in the state budget since 2020. Atlanta Public Schools is going even further in promising to pay more.

The school district is finalizing its latest budget. It includes a significant pay increase averaging 11 percent for teachers, which would make APS one of the best payers in the state. The salary increase marks the district’s largest salary increase since 2009, according to APS Human Resources Director Nicole Lawson.

“In this market, especially in Atlanta, it’s very competitive,” Lawson said. “We have neighboring school districts and we are often competing for the same talented teachers in a very limited pool. We must at least be either the first payer or the second payer, so that retention is not affected by compensation .

Lawson said since the district-wide salary increase was put on the table, the district has already received more qualified and experienced applicants. The APS currently has 102 vacant positions. Lawson said teachers can also receive extra pay if they specialize in higher-demand subjects or teach in certain schools.

“Teachers want to be paid well,” Lawson said. “They also want to have an environment that allows them to grow and learn, and they also want to have a job that is achievable for them. If you retain your teachers, you focus on that, the less money you will have to spend on recruitment and turnaround costs to hire new teachers.

11Alive spoke with a teacher who is entering ninth grade. She wanted to remain anonymous. She previously taught at APS and has since taught in several other districts. She said the money could make the difference in potentially purchasing a home for her family, which includes three children.

“I will definitely start and finish because I signed my contract,” the teacher said. “But if the salary is not comparable, then I will definitely look at other districts to see if I can better support my family. I also feel like that’s why a lot of new “Teachers are leaving because they need a lot of mentoring and support.”

Lisa Morgan is president of the Georgia Association of Educators. She added that aside from the salary, feelings of burnout have also led many teachers to leave the profession.

“We are facing a teacher shortage, so it’s not surprising that districts are increasing educator salaries,” Morgan said. “Educators want to feel supported in their school. They want an administration that gives them the support and resources they need within their school to do their jobs and educate their children.

As larger districts raise salaries, Morgan worries that smaller, more rural school districts, with weaker tax bases, will lose teachers willing to drive further for more money. She said it was the state’s responsibility to find a way to properly fund public education and adequately pay public school teachers.

“We have had districts that have implemented signing bonuses; “Some districts have implemented retention bonuses,” Morgan said. “We want time to teach, to be in the classroom doing what we love, and they also want time to plan their teaching. Whether they live in downtown Atlanta, if they live in the In suburbs or rural areas of Georgia, we want to see all of our children attend a school where they are cared for and where they have the educators they need to ensure their success.

And while some teachers might follow the money, the teacher with nine years of experience wants to stay in her district because she says support matters just as much as salary.

“I give them everything I have when I go to work every day, and I need that to go back to my own children,” the teacher said. “I’m really happy where I’m at; I just need to be compensated.

APS provides a salary calculator for teachers so everyone can see how much they could potentially earn. Anyone interested in finding out more about how to apply for vacancies can click here.