From The 74, by Sharon Kebschull Barrett, June 4, 2025
Ask teachers how much their pay matters, and they often shy away from a direct answer, feeling ashamed to admit they do their job for anything beyond a sheer love of helping students.
District leaders more openly acknowledge the importance of compensation, especially for teachers who must work a second job to make ends meet, and in regions that struggle to hire and retain educators.
But they can do more than just help their educators escape a two-job grind. In Texas, one district has made it possible for teachers to earn six-figure salaries without leaving the classroom — and without having to wait for decades.
Every state and district should make this their teachers’ reality.
How is it happening? Take a look at Midland Independent School District, in the Permian Basin.