Investing in our teachers is the key to R.I.’s future

With the holiday season upon us, and as I reflect on this year, I find myself grateful to an old teacher of mine from Central Falls High School who I recently saw at an event. Teachers can — and do — have a considerable impact on our formative years. For many like me, they become mentors, role models, and lifelong relations. As I think about all that my teachers have given me over the years, we need to work toward providing more support for our public educators , so they can continue shaping the future of our state.
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude. And during this holiday season, like many of you, I am grateful for my family, my friends, and those who have had an impact on my life.
As treasurer, I have been proud to continue the work of my predecessor as we continue to build and renovate educational facilities across Rhode Island. That work is undoubtedly important and helps ensure that our children and our teachers have the advantage of schools that are comfortable and well-equipped for 21st-century learning.
However, we must also acknowledge that communities across Rhode Island — and the country — continue to face teacher shortages. Class consolidation and teacher turnover caused by understaffing can create an inconsistent, unstable, and disruptive learning environment that impacts student achievement. Those professionals who do remain in the classroom are often overworked and underpaid. Such results are a disservice not just to our students, but also to our teachers.
Over the past several decades, we have seen the wage gap between teachers and other professionals widen. Teacher wages have remained relatively flat while professionals in other fields have seen their average wages increase dramatically. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, that gap increased by 7.6 percent between 2010 and 2021, causing the average weekly wages of teachers to lag nearly 33 percent behind those of other professionals by 2021. Closer to home, Rhode Island teacher salaries are not competitive with Massachusetts and Connecticut.
In the past, teachers may have concluded that the promise of a solid retirement plan outweighed lower immediate earnings. In recent years, however, teachers and other public servants have seen pension benefits cut back. The combination of lower salaries and diminished retirement security poses a serious challenge as college graduates and young professionals can choose from multiple careers that offer better entry-level pay, and a path toward higher lifetime earnings. Staffing shortages, stagnant pay, and retirement security have all discouraged new graduates from entering the field, perpetuating the current teacher shortage.
Advertisement
Teaching was always seen as a rewarding, noble profession that shaped communities and had a deep impact on our society. While this still rings true today, education is increasingly perceived to be a thankless, low-paying job often mired in the bureaucracy of standardized tests and fraught with socioeconomic challenges.
A recent survey of educators by McKinsey indicated that 38 percent of teachers between the ages of 25 and 34 planned to leave the profession within the next few years, compared with 30 percent of older educators. According to a recent actuarial study by the Employee Retirement System of Rhode Island, the probability of new teachers remaining employed until retirement eligibility dropped to an all-time low of 47 percent. If left unchecked, this trend could have serious long-term consequences on our public education system and competitiveness.
As a state, we have to get serious about teacher recruitment and retention. This starts by offering wages and benefits competitive with those in neighboring states and other professions. These benefits could range from tuition assistance to down payment assistance and other proven homeownership incentives. And while we continue to acknowledge and celebrate the critical role that teachers play in our society, we must also ensure the long-term stability of the pension system, so that a teacher’s years of service may be honored by the promise of a dignified retirement.
Advertisement
Our current teacher shortages are more than just a passing staffing challenge. They present a clear threat to the quality of education that our children receive and to the future economic development of our state. While we continue to work together to improve the quality of public education in Rhode Island, it’s imperative that we attract and retain talented and dedicated educators. Our children, our economy, and the future of our state depend on it. As we head into the new year, we must double down on our efforts to invest in our teachers as they are the key to Rhode Island’s future. My office is fully committed to this important fight and will support all legislative efforts that help achieve these goals.
James Diossa is the general treasurer for the state of Rhode Island.