LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s Teacher Appreciation Week and while teachers across the nation have been receiving gifts from students, many are struggling just to get by.
Sarah Mills is a gifted and talented resource teacher at Bullitt County Public Schools. She, like many other teachers, is in the profession for the children. However, Mills has heard stories from fellow teachers who are struggling financially.
“It’s very difficult and sad that a lot of them are struggling in order to make those ends meet and put food on the table,” Mills said.
Kentucky’s ranked 41st in the nation for average teacher salary, according to a 2024 report by the National Education Association (NEA). Compared to the national average teacher salary of almost $70,000, Kentucky’s average is nearly $56,300.
“It’s sad in general because when I hear that statistic, I immediately think about the kids and how they are the ones that ultimately suffer,” Mills said.
Though Mills is at the highest level of the BCPS pay scale, she has to be careful with her money. Since her father passed away, she has been paying his mortgage on top of all of her own bills. Mills also has retirement to think about.
“I’m not able to put as much into savings as I would like to and I very much worry about, you know, like, when will I actually be able to retire?” Mills asked.
Mills isn’t the only one who has had to consider retirement. There are teachers, like Jo Hendrickson, who have taken drastic measures.
Hendrickson drives from Richmond to Louisville for work every day. She was at Madison County Public Schools for 18 years before transferring to Jefferson County Public Schools.
“It was a hard decision and when I left it was the money,” Hendrickson said. “I really had to have more money.”
Hendrickson increased her salary about $26,000 in the first year after switching to JCPS.
Kentucky is ranked low in other key areas as well, according to the same NEA report. The average starting pay for teachers is ranked 45th in the nation, with a salary of less than $40,000. The national ranking for the average kindergarten through 12th grade educational support professional is 47, with a salary of about $27,000.
Teacher salaries play a big role in the teacher shortage that is being seen across the country, including Kentucky. Low pay has led to teachers leaving for higher salaries in other states or leaving the profession all together.