Letter to the Editor: Missouri can do more for its teachers

Dear editor,

I am writing to express my concerns about the economic development and workforce readiness in Missouri, particularly in regard to our education system. We must have a workforce that is ready to take on the jobs and skills our employers need. We need the best people to make that happen. And that comes down to teacher pay. It is disheartening to see us falling behind in this crucial area.

A recent study by the National Education Association showed that Missouri ranks at the bottom when it comes to starting teacher pay [$32,970]. Our average pay [$51,444 during the 2020-21 school year, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] is also lower than most of our neighboring states. This is unacceptable, especially considering the critical role teachers play in shaping the future of our state and the economy. Our teachers can easily cross the border in any direction and increase their salaries by thousands of dollars a year. Why would we not fight to keep the best teachers here so Missouri is a destination for a highly educated workforce?

Quality teachers are essential to the success of our children and workforce readiness in our state. Without quality teachers, our children will struggle to compete, and Missouri will fall further behind.

It is important to stress the positive impact that our teachers have on economic development. When our children are well-educated and prepared for the workforce, they will be more likely to secure good jobs and contribute to the growth of our state. This, in turn, will attract businesses and industries to Missouri, leading to more job opportunities and economic prosperity for all Missourians.

Officials in Arkansas are rightly debating teacher pay raises, including how large of a raise they are going to give their teachers. Meanwhile, it is frustrating to see Missouri is silent on the matter.

We cannot afford to ignore the importance of quality teachers and their impact on our state’s future. We cannot let our great teachers leave the state when our legislators can provide a solution.

We need leaders willing to invest in our education system, support our teachers and ensure that our children are well prepared for the challenges ahead. It is simply unacceptable for our state to be behind all of our neighboring states in teacher pay.

Let’s work together to prioritize education and teacher pay in Missouri. Let’s invest in our teachers and give them the resources they need to succeed. Our children, our state and our economy depend on it.

Please contact your elected officials to let them know we need to increase teacher pay.

—Gearl Loden, Nixa Public Schools