Teacher Appreciation Week may be over, but it’s difficult not to hold continuous respect and admiration year-round for educators shaping the next generation’s minds.
Unfortunately, teacher pay often doesn’t mirror that esteem. The national average starting salary for a teacher is roughly $30,377, according to the National Education Association.
By contrast, the NEA notes that beginning computer programmers earn about $43,635, entry-level public accountants make around $44,668 and newly licensed registered nurses start at approximately $45,570.
The typical teacher salary also overlooks the unpaid hours many devote to grading and crafting lesson plans. It likewise ignores how much educators personally spend on classroom supplies or treats for students. A Money article last year found that most teachers spend over $500 annually on supplies out of pocket.
With Rent Jungle indicating average apartment rent in San Francisco is about $3,703, some local teachers struggle to afford basic shelter.
The San Francisco Chronicle recently profiled one such educator, Etoria Cheeks, who was homeless despite holding a master’s degree and earning roughly $65,000 a year.
“I am disturbed as anyone to have a teacher who’s homeless,” San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee commented. “We have an immediate problem right now.”
The proposal to develop affordable housing for teachers has circulated in the city for nearly two decades, but last week Lee moved the initiative forward by allocating $44 million and choosing a site to build 130 to 150 rental units for educators,the Chronicle reported.
Although the plan still requires approval from the city school board, the complex might be completed by 2022. Criteria for which teachers would qualify and the rental pricing have not yet been finalized.
While San Francisco’s plan is in the spotlight, it’s not the first municipality to consider this approach.
Similar Projects Around the Nation
Yahoo News notes other cities have established housing for educators — including Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Newark, New Jersey; Asheville, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California.
In 2014, Milwaukee officials approved a project for a 75-unit housing development for teachers, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Earlier this year, more than half of the 204 units at a new mixed-use development called Teachers Village in Newark, New Jersey, were finished and occupied, with about 70% of residents being teachers and education staff, NJ.com reported.
In Asheville, North Carolina, Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools teamed with the county and partners to create a 24-unit affordable complex for teachers that was slated for completion this month, the Citizen-Times reported.
The Los Angeles Times reported two of three affordable housing projects developed by the Los Angeles Unified School District to curb teacher turnover were fully occupied last October, but no teachers lived there.
Ironically, teacher pay was considered too high for eligibility in those projects, while other lower-paid school employees — such as cafeteria staff, bus operators and special education aides — rented the majority of the 156 units. The remaining project was still under construction.
A Growing Conversation
It appears the topic of affordable housing for educators is gaining traction across many regions.
In March, the News-Press reported Lee County, Florida school district officials were exploring a future development of one-, two- and three-bedroom units to be offered to teachers at 15 to 20% below market rents.
“This isn’t a substitute for raising pay,” Angela Pruitt, the district’s chief human resources officer, explained. “It’s something we’re considering in addition, to help retain teachers.”
An article in The Atlantic reported in January that Denver Public Schools were also investigating affordable housing options for teachers in Colorado’s capital.
Perhaps subsidized housing for teachers will become more common elsewhere. Or school districts might move toward paying wages that permit educators to live in the communities where they teach — without relying on subsidized housing or taking extra jobs.
After all, these professionals are preparing our future leaders and workforce. Our recognition of their work should reflect that.
Nicole Hart is a staff writer at Savinly.
