Pinellas school board approves 4.5% increase in annual teacher wages

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Pinellas County School Board unanimously voted to approve a 4.5% increase in annual teacher wages Tuesday – the highest wage increase in years. 

The board worked in conjunction with the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association (PCTA) to nearly double what the state had originally proposed, which was an increase of only 1.41%.

Educators could see anywhere from $1,000 to $2,600 more next year. 

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"This is the largest raise I’ve ever seen in my seven years of teaching," Brennan Pickett, a St. Petersburg High School teacher, said. "I could be seeing an extra $100 on my paycheck every two weeks. It’s not going to change my life, but it does help."

The school board and the teachers unions seemed to agree at the board meeting Tuesday night that although this was a win for educators, there will still be an ongoing fight for better living wages for their profession. 

"We want to be much higher. We want to have a fully professional wage for the best and brightest teachers, so we have the best and brightest students," said Laura Hine, the vice chair of the Pinellas County School Board. 

PCTA Union President Lee Bryant told FOX 13 that although he is proud of the work they did to bump the 2023-2024 increase, Florida is way behind the national standard for teacher salaries.

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"What the state sends Pinellas County schools, and other school districts is not enough," Bryant said. "The state has gone down to 48th in teacher pay in the nation. We’re one of the top economies in America, and we pay 48th in education pay in this state."

Still, in the last three years combined, Bryant said his union has helped to increase wages over 12%. 

"[Teacher] can make more money with less stress and enjoys their lives better by leaving the profession," Bryant said. "Many people dream their whole lives about becoming a teacher, but you also have to pay rent."

Tuesday’s 6-0 vote to approve the increase is still a step in the right direction for Pickett. 

"We had 92% vote yes on ratifying this contract… it’s a good pill to swallow, because we are seeing increases in our wages over time," Pickett said.