Teacher salaries compared to leadership salaries

[Current parent]

One of the reasons I have seen for the high headmaster and CFO salaries is to be competitive with other NAIS schools, especially on the East Coast. If that is used for justification, then I think the same should hold true for the AA teachers. It is my understanding that AA teacher salaries are not even that decent compared to APS teacher salaries. If we want the brightest and best educating our bright students, then we need to pay them accordingly (as the Head of School and CFO are paid).

Of course, none of this is even possible with a quickly fading endowment. For that reason, I personally think the salaries of the leadership should be drastically cut to be commensurate with the teacher salaries.

[Class of 2011 Alum]

This is a great point. It is my understanding (and frankly common knowledge amongst anyone who has a personal relationship with faculty members) that faculty and staff have not received raises of any kind in several years. As class sizes have increased, teacher salaries have stayed the same. As money has been pocketed by the “leadership,” teachers are left with low salaries and continuously diminishing benefits. This has led to a justifiably low morale.

As a recent graduate, I am incredibly grateful for the doors that the Academy has opened for my future and my career. However, none of these opportunities are because of Andy. The positive impact that the Academy has had on my life is because of the teachers, who work tirelessly and receive very little in return. Many of these teachers have sacrificed hours of time with their family to impact the lives of students. For Andy to make a salary of that magnitude simply to be a figurehead is frankly embarrassing.

Unfortunately, I will never give a penny to the Academy as long as Andy is the headmaster. This is the sentiment of several of my fellow alums. Under Andy’s guidance, the school is bleeding money. The Academy employs wonderful faculty and staff members, however, this will not last under Andy’s misguidance. Morale at the school is already low and these positive influences in students’ lives will find other jobs where they will feel respected by the administration.

[someonewhoworkshere]

Dear class of 2011 alum,
Your statement “It is my understanding (and frankly common knowledge amongst anyone who has a personal relationship with faculty members) that faculty and staff have not received raises of any kind in several years” is FALSE.
I searched through our school emails from over the years and found the following data:
2009 – salaries were kept flat
2010 – $1000 bonus
2011 – 2% raise
2012 – yes, there was a raise. I found the email where the raise was referenced, and that it would be explained further in our meetings.
2014 – 2.5%
2016 – 2%
2017 – 3% or $1200.
I could not find the emails from 2013 and 2015, but am pretty sure we received a small raise.

These figures are far from what you claim in your statement.

The problem with blogs is that people can post whatever they want, whether it is true or not.

Please do not spread misinformation.
It is not helpful to the cause of this blog, or the idea of truth in general.

Thank you.

[Former Parent]

Dear someonewhoworkhere: Please elaborate on “bonus.”

[MidLevelTeacher]

2008 – No raise 2010– a bonus without a raise is called a “flat raise”– it’s bogus to call it a bonus I do not recall getting $1000. Could it have been a different amount for different teachers? Did staff get a flat raise, too? 2017 – Case in point– that $1200 is a “flat raise.” The less a person makes, the more the flat raise can help boost their salary. The more a person makes, the more a % raise can help boost their salary. But this is all beside the original point: Admin and Board skim off the top and leave faculty and staff to hustle

[Public school teacher]

I’m trying to find out what a first year teacher makes at the Academy? Is there a public salary schedule available? If so, link please?

[garuda]

MidLevelTeacher, you are right. A “flat raise” discriminates against older teachers. they’ve been loyal, sometimes working most of their lives for the Academy. A fair raise is one that gives everyone the same percent.

Don’t forget, many older employees have big expenses too. Health care costs can be huge, as well as the need to pay off college debt for children.

Older Academy employees are not rich. They need a fair raise as much as younger ones.

[Ed]

As a retired department chair, I think it’s important for the community to understand Albuquerque Academy crossed an important financial line about two or three years ago. The school’s salary schedule is no longer competitive in the national marketplace and consequently, only local people are being hired to fill teacher openings. While this is good for talented teachers in our city it greatly reduces the options when the Academy is looking for the very best educators and over time it will significantly impact the quality of the student and family experience.

[chargerfan]

Great point, Ed. And that goes to the heart of another comment that the faculty are the heart of any good school. Without the best, you can’t be the best.

[Some Bad Teachers on The Rise]

Ed,

You are correct about the new hires at AA and actually some of the older teachers. Our child has had both a brand new teacher and a teacher of 20 years or so and both were terrible. Our child was taught on class by her father, thank God he knew the subject. In the other class our child learned to HATE the subject as the teacher only wanted to hear her/his voice, no learning was involved only regurgitation of the teachers thoughts. All this for $23k a year. It is so sad as AA has amazing students that yearn for knowledge.

[Author]

Posts