I have been a teacher since 1975. In 1980 I began teaching in Snohomish. At that time Snohomish was one of the higher paid districts. I loved my experience as a Snohomish teacher. In 1988, I left the district to be a “stay-at-home” mom. When I was ready to go back to teaching in 1996, I was shocked and astounded at the gap in pay between Snohomish and other districts in the area. I could make hundreds more dollars a month by teaching in another district. Although my heart yearned for a return to the Snohomish District, I was a single mom and could not afford to teach there. I took a job in the Mukilteo School District.
Some of my old Snohomish teacher friends also left the Snohomish School District because they could no longer adequately make ends meet. Similar to myself, they now teach in outlying districts. Many of them, like myself, live in the Snohomish District, and their children attend the Snohomish schools, but they cannot afford to teach there.
Last week, as a parent of three children who attend schools in the Snohomish District, I received a letter from the new superintendent stating that the teachers in Snohomish district are paid competitively with other districts. I shook my head in frustration, because I know that I still cannot afford to teach in the Snohomish District.
I wish to express my appreciation to the teachers in Snohomish for their willingness to endure the pain of a strike, in order to make Snohomish a place where teachers can afford to teach. I ask all people who can, to call the district and urge them to settle with the teachers by giving them a significant raise that will make them at least level with the other districts.
Snohomish
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