Teacher Appreciation Amid Financial and Professional Struggles
Teacher Appreciation Week often brings gifts and gratitude from students and families, but this recognition scarcely addresses the persistent challenges educators face. Union leaders highlight the ongoing financial and professional pressures that teachers endure throughout the year.
K-12 educators have long navigated obstacles within underfunded schools, including insufficient salaries, large class sizes, and personal expenditures on student supplies. In addition to these challenges, teachers are now confronting heightened scrutiny over their teaching methods and potential federal funding cuts proposed by the Trump administration. These developments have left many educators feeling demoralized.
“That’s a crisis for our country. We need to have teachers,” stated Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. She expressed concern over the overwhelming pressure and lack of support that teachers face.
Salary Discrepancies and Teacher Retention
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for public K-12 teachers was around $62,000 in 2024. According to Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, teachers could earn approximately 24% more in non-teaching roles within the private sector, given their skills and dedication.
Despite this, many educators remain in the profession to make a difference in students’ lives. However, the shortage of teachers in public schools continues to be a pressing issue, affecting class sizes and the quality of education.
“If you don’t have a physics teacher because of the shortage, and kids want to take physics or need physics, that’s going to impact kids,” Weingarten remarked. “If you don’t have a computer science teacher, that’s going to impact kids.”
Proposed Cuts to Federal Education Funding
The Trump administration’s recent executive orders aim to cut federal funding for education, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and potentially the Department of Education itself. In fiscal year 2022, the Education Department accounted for approximately 13.6% of public K-12 funding, according to Census data.
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes a $12 billion reduction in Education Department funding, with significant cuts to K-12 education. The White House argues that this budget proposal would streamline funding directly to states, reducing federal administrative costs.
Pringle voiced concerns: “When you see the federal government, this administration, threatening to pull back on those funds… it’s a lot.”
Teacher Financial Burden and Community Support
Teachers often spend hundreds of dollars annually on classroom supplies, with estimates ranging from $450 to upwards of $1,000. Pringle, a former 8th-grade science teacher, recalls purchasing materials like vinegar and baking soda for student projects. Teachers in lower-income areas frequently contribute more financially due to limited district funds.
“They’re taking money out of their own pockets when they don’t have enough already, and out of their family’s budgets, and that’s not OK,” Pringle emphasized. She calls for the country to fulfill its promise to support teachers and students adequately.
Pringle encourages families to show appreciation through tangible support, such as contacting representatives or adding personal notes to gifts. Weingarten added, “Teachers are one of the most trusted professions in the country. But they need to be supported 365 days a year, not just one day a year.”
