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Many Texas Teachers Need 2nd Job To Make Ends Meet

Courtesy: TSTA

TEXAS TEACHER'S PAY - A study released this week finds more teachers in the Lone Star state are taking second jobs to supplement their income.  The Texas State Teachers Association, or TSTA, conducted the survey of nearly 1-thousand educators.   Four-in-ten said they needed second jobs to make ends meet.  TSTA president  Noel  Candelaria  expects thisnumber to grow.

“Based on conversations I’ve had with teachers across the state there are more and more that are looking at taking second jobs when they’re already facing increases to their health insurance starting on September 1st.” 

Credit Courtesy: TSTA
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Courtesy: TSTA
Noel Candelaria, President-Texas State Teachers Association

Candelaria says the state legislature needs to adequately fund public education, and that includes contributing to teacher salaries.

“Right now, we’re 73-hundred dollars below the national average, ranking 29th the country, so bringing that up to the national average, increasing teacher pay across the state, and not just leaving it up to individual school districts.”

Just  over half of the survey respondents said they were considering leaving the teaching profession because of salaries.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.