“My parents are worried.”
“My parents said I could do better.”
“My parents don’t want me to be poor.”
I’ve gotten used to hearing these reports from my students who discuss their interest in teaching with their parents. The hard truth is that the teaching profession gets more bad press than good (in fact, that’s one reason SDPB’s Teacher Talk exists, to create more balance), so I’m not surprised when parents have concerns. A 2024 Forbes article by Mark C. Perna noted that one component of teacher stress is the disrespect from some very vocal groups in our nation. That disrespect influences a population’s view of the profession and impacts not only retention but also recruitment of teachers. Consider this: a 2022 study by NORC at the University of Chicago revealed that only 18% of its respondents said they are likely to encourage a young person to become a teacher. Yet, through SDPB’s Teacher Talk, in my Teacher Pathway classes, in my adjunct work, and in my own home, I encourage young people to teach.
I am excited that my daughter Emma will start her teaching career in one year because teaching is a pathway to a solid, middle class lifestyle, which the Pew Research Center defines as “two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income.” Look at a school’s teacher parking lot: not too many luxury vehicles, but a whole lot of modest, reliable rides. Regarding salary, a lot depends on location. As reported by the South Dakota Department of Education, in South Dakota, starting salaries in urban areas and some reservations are around $53,000, while many rural areas are $5000 - $10,000 less. In 2023, the average per capita income for all of South Dakota, according to the Census Bureau, was $38,880. According to the National Education Association, the average starting salary for all 50 states is $46,526. California ($58,409) has the highest average starting salary for teachers, while Montana ($35,674), Missouri ($38,871) and Nebraska ($38,871) have the lowest.
I am also thrilled that Emma will be a teacher because teaching can be a pathway to a rich family life. Admittedly, sometimes in my career I’ve let schoolwork and stress hurt my family life, yet I suspect this is true for many professions. Fortunately, as I’ve gained experience and established healthy boundaries between my professional life and personal life, much more often than not my career has enriched my family. Some of my most cherished memories are summer and winter breaks with my kids. They loved having a mom who was home when they were home, who took them to school events such as basketball games, plays, and volleyball camps, and who had granola bars and money in her classroom just a hallway away. I got to see my kids as students in the hallway, lunchroom, and my own classroom, while they got to see me in my professional life.
Emma will begin her teaching career as a Spanish teacher in the fall of 2026. I’ve always been excited for her. Yes, teaching is hard, hard work. She will have good days and bad days, and I will be there to coach, mentor, and encourage her as much or as little as she wants. I expect that she will find others who can guide and support her as well. In fact, after the financial foundation is set, it’s those human connections that make me most excited for Emma, for the future teachers who sit in my classroom, and for the future teachers who are part of the SDPB Teacher Talk community of listeners.
