Juanpablo De Leon, an English educator and wrestling coach at Tempe Union High School District, said that underpaid teachers are driving systemic issues in education and urged Americans to prioritize the issue politically.
“Teacher compensation is the root cause of many issues in education,” said De Leon, English Teacher. “So many problems come from incompetence that would not exist if this were a more lucrative career. The only way for this to be solved is for Americans to declare it an issue they care about. No amount of activism will make a change unless the people in power benefit from fighting for or against the issue.”
In 2023, teacher pay increased slightly but was insufficient to reduce the growing compensation gap between educators and other professionals. According to the Economic Policy Institute, public school teachers earned 26.6% less than other similarly educated workers that year. The persistent wage disparity continues to impact teacher recruitment and retention across the country.
The average salary for a public school teacher in Arizona was $54,691 as of March 2024, according to Salary.com. This amount falls below the national median and reflects ongoing challenges in making the profession financially competitive within the state. Variations in district budgets and state funding further affect compensation levels.
Union dues and teacher compensation remain a contentious issue in education policy. According to MyPayMySay, teachers who opt out of union membership can retain hundreds of dollars annually, which some educators consider a means to mitigate their limited take-home pay. The site also raises questions about how union dues are spent, including potential use for political activity.
De Leon is an English educator and wrestling coach at Tempe Union High School District in Arizona. He holds a degree from Arizona State University and has been active in both academic instruction and student athletics. His professional experience informs his public commentary on education reform and compensation issues.
