Orange County, FL teachers lousy working conditions in the Orlando Sentinel

No sane person would teach in FL to start with because of DeSantis and the draconian, extremist GOP. However, teaching in Orange County, FL is particularly hard with the low pay and high cost of living. Here is the op-Ed of Clinton McCracken, union leader.

If you live in Orange County contact the school board on behalf of educators.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/08/13/paying-teachers-better-an-investment-in-education-and-community-commentary/#

As the new school year begins, a distressing reality confronts us — classrooms without teachers. Many dedicated educators have left their beloved profession, seeking careers that offer them the respect they deserve and significantly better pay. In the face of this reality, we must not merely acknowledge the challenges faced by our educators; we must take action.

The heart of any successful education system is its teachers, pivotal figures in shaping the minds and futures of our children. Yet, it is disheartening to watch these passionate educators juggling second and third jobs and seeking roommates to make ends meet. The financial strain forces many to leave their teaching career altogether or to move out of Orange County, resulting in long commutes and more exhaustion. Our schools benefit when teachers can afford to live in the communities where they teach.

Paying teachers better isn’t just a teacher issue; it echoes throughout our entire community. Classrooms led by substitutes instead of experienced teachers affect academic success, behavior, and school culture. Underperforming schools cast a shadow on our entire community. When our most experienced teachers leave, our new teachers lose mentors, and the entire school loses vital experience. We must invest in our teachers because we are investing in our own communities.

Additionally, we cannot stand idly by as teachers endure false accusations from our Legislature, face an ever-increasing workload, encounter attacks on their unions, navigate laws that further victimize already marginalized students, experience book bans or are told to whitewash history. New laws and restrictions merely compound the challenges, hindering our teachers’ ability to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

These are fixable problems. We must urge the Orange County School Board and District to prioritize teacher pay. Competitive salaries and a supportive work environment help recruit and retain exceptional educators which, in turn, creates a brighter future for our children.

The responsibility does not solely fall on the school board and district. As a community, we must rally behind our teachers and students and demonstrate our support at the polls. We must elect pro-public education candidates who value and prioritize the welfare of our teachers and the success of our students.

Teachers love what they do, and their passion for teaching is evident in the success of their students and in this high performing school district. However, they also have homes and families to care for. It’s a painful reality that many are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to leave a career they love due to financial strain and an unreasonable workload. By investing in our teachers and students we can build a stronger educational system and a thriving community. Our future depends on it.