
Hi there,
I’ll never forget the apartment where I lived in a closet converted into a bedroom—which, needless to say, had no closet. It was all I could afford—my first job out of college in the late 1990s paid just $17,000. I was 21 years old. Back then, it seemed normal to struggle, eat ramen noodles (the 33-cent kind not the trendy ones in bougie restaurants), and live paycheck to paycheck.
I was young, loved my job, and expected to have to work a lot to earn more money “someday.” The problem is, for many educators—like Cindy Porter, a Maryland paraeducator featured in our October issue of NEA Today—that “someday” still hasn’t come, even after 27 years on the job.
That’s why the October issue of NEA Today is our first-ever Salary Issue. Inside, you’ll find stories on how to boost your pay, what the union difference really looks like, how salary scales are built, and who earns what. | |
We’re also sharing practical resources—like a roadmap to retirement (no matter your age) and much more.
Dive into the Salary Issue and remember: your “someday” can be today with the help of your union because whether you’re still living in a tiny apartment or have moved on to your own home, the choice to eat package Ramen should be yours—and not because you can’t afford the real stuff.
Thank you for all you do for our students, schools, and communities.
In solidarity,
Giovanna Bechard
Editor-in-Chief
NEA Today |
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