CBS News Baltimore Live
BALTIMORE — Teachers in Anne Arundel County will get raises and more opportunities for career advancement after the school board approved an agreement with the county’s teachers union.
The agreement, approved unanimously by the board, provides for increased compensation, establishes a career ladder and creates a salary structure for middle school track and field coaches.
“We want to strengthen our profession, and competitive pay is a start,” said union president Christina Corona, who has been a teacher in Anne Arundel County Public Schools for 23 years. “We’ve just been behind in pay compared to surrounding counties for years.”
The recently approved agreement includes phased-in pay increases for eligible employees and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all teachers and counselors.
“We are thrilled to have reached this point and to be able to add these wonderful teachers and counselors to our school,” said Anne Arundel County Board of Education President Robert Silkworth. “They are at the forefront of what we do as a school system every day and have a tremendous impact on our students. I am grateful to each and every one of them.”
Corona says the career ladder established in the agreement will help keep experienced educators in the classroom.
“Because people felt that if they wanted to get a higher paycheck or advance their career, they had to leave the classroom, become an administrator or go to a central office,” Corona said.
Teachers can now earn promotions and increase their compensation by earning advanced degrees and National Board of Education certifications.
“The real goal is to keep people in the classroom, fill vacancies and give people a solid paycheck,” Corona said.
