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(Tallahassee, FL) - Florida already ranks dead last in average teacher pay nationwide which stands at $53,098 a year. But today, the state's new head of education accused teachers' unions of withholding salary increases from educators.
Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas says Florida has invested nearly $6 billion dollars in teacher pay since 2020 but says unions withhold the hard-earned dollars during protracted negotiations.
According to Kamoutsas, "Last year alone, we had 16-districts that still had not paid teachers well into February when the raise increases were appropriated in July." He added that in Leon County, teachers didn't get paid this bonus until May of the following year.
"This is totally unacceptable. The teacher's union and the Leon County superintendent Rocky Hanna should be ashamed of themselves."
While Florida struggles to retain experienced educators, the National Education Association data ranks Florida 16th in the country in average starting teacher pay at $48,000.
Kamoutsas says teachers' unions compound the poor pay problem by withholding the salary increases during protracted negotiations. The education commissioner says he has sent out letters advising teachers to turn up the heat on their union reps and demand they get their hard-earned money.