FLEMING ISLAND — Clay County Education Association (CCEA) President Vicki Kidwell reminded the School Board of the financial qualms of being a teacher at the March 6 meeting. 

During a CCEA update, Kidwell made the board aware of a recent survey they conducted. Kidwell said the union, which represents all public school teachers employed at Clay County District Schools, requested feedback on working conditions and top priorities for bargaining. 

Supporting veteran teachers was a major request.

“Overwhelmingly, the respondents wanted veteran teacher pay and salary decompression to be a major focus of negotiations,” Kidwell said. 

She said that no one who responded complained about beginning educator pay. That’s because within the last five years, labor negotiations upped the district and state’s investment in beginner salaries. Just last year, the union tentatively won a $4 million dollar raise.

The investment moved the district’s starting pay from $39,000 in 2020, to the current salary of more than $48,000 in 2025. However, this raise didn't apply to all teachers.

She said this helped push Florida to 16th in the nation for starting teacher pay, but the state remains 50th in the nation for average educator pay. 

Sharing the stories and perspectives of a number of teachers within the district, Kidwell read a tentative overview of how much some are struggling.

One teacher has been educating for 16 years and has served in the county for the last seven. The teacher previously worked in another southern state where educators were paid $4,000 for having master’s degrees. In Clay, they get half that amount. 

“If I was still working in my previous state today, I would be making over $59,000 plus $4,000 for my master’s,” the teacher said. “It’s hard to wrap my head around the reality of my pay here. My base salary in Clay is $51,430.” 

Another teacher said that despite 16 years as an educator and advanced degrees, their base contract pay remains disproportionately low compared to the cost of living. The educator also noted that this matter could impact future student success.

“The financial strain has required me to make difficult personal and professional sacrifices,” the teacher said, “from limiting classroom resources I purchase for my students, to making tough budgeting decisions at home. It’s disheartening to know that veteran teachers with years of experience, expertise and dedication continue to struggle financially.”

Additionally, one teacher with 30 years of experience noted that they remember speaking with another educator who was making $70,000 after 30 years. They said that at the time, they couldn’t wait to reach that point. 

“I could give more to those in need at my church,” they said. “My house might be close to being paid off, my car wouldn’t be in shambles. My kids and grands would be spoiled, and I wouldn’t have to read the menu from left to right looking at the prices first.” 

Kidwell urged the board to do everything they can to take action and raise the salaries of veteran teachers. 

“I know that these stories are hard to hear,” she said. “They’re harder to live and they are real.”

Superintendent David Broskie said great work has been done, but he understands more is necessary. 

“No one on this board opposes to what you're saying,” Broskie said. “It’s a matter of resources in order to do that. So, I think we’re all on the same page when it comes to that."

In other business, the meeting also recognized many student artists and athletes for their recent accomplishments. 

Four students — Jaden Poole (Fleming Island High School), Hailey Nalepa (Lake Asbury Junior High), Katie Moffitt (Lakeside Junior High) and Allison Tomkins (Lakeside Junior High) — were honored for being Gold Key Winners in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers. 

The board also recognized state championship teams: Middleburg High School’s girls weightlifting, Fleming Island High School’s girls weightlifting and Clay High School’s cheerleading team.

Additionally, Fleming Island High School’s Bradi Johnson was awarded for her individual weightlifting state championship win in the Traditional and Olympic category. Clay High’s four-time weightlifting state champion Emma Heck was also recognized for her win in the Traditional and Olympic category.