Teacher Pay

A closer look at teacher pay

The document discusses the topic of teacher pay, specifically focusing on how Durango School District 9-R compares to national and Colorado averages. It highlights a significant increase in the average teacher salary, the percentage of the budget spent on employee compensation, and the starting teacher pay in the district.

Average teacher salary increase

Since the 2019/2020 school year, the average teacher salary in Durango School District 9-R has increased by 27%. This increase is significantly higher than the national and Colorado averages, which shows that the district is making substantial investments in its teachers.

Budget expenditure on compensation

The document states that the district currently spends 87% of its budget on employee compensation. This is a very high percentage, indicating that the district values its employees and is willing to invest in their compensation.

Starting teacher pay

The starting-teacher salary in Durango School District 9-R has also seen a significant increase of 29% since 2020. This increase is higher than the national and Colorado averages, which suggests that the district is offering competitive starting salaries to attract new teachers.

Comparison to national and Colorado averages

The document provides a comparison of Durango School District 9-R's starting-teacher pay to the national and Colorado averages. In 2023, the district's starting-teacher pay is projected to be $51,500, higher than both the national and Colorado averages of $37,124 and $42,844 respectively. This puts the district in the top 20% of starting-teacher pay in Colorado.

Daily rates in comparable Colorado districts

The document also reveals that the district has the second-highest daily rate for starting teacher pay in 2023/24 for staff who have a Bachelor’s degree. The daily rate in comparable Colorado districts is $281.42, slightly lower than the daily rate in Durango School District 9-R.

In conclusion, while the national and Colorado averages may suggest that teacher pay in Colorado is low, the document shows that Durango School District 9-R is actually above average compared to other districts in the state. The district's increased investments in teacher pay and compensation are paying off, as evidenced by the significant increase in average teacher salary and the competitive starting-teacher salary.