Governor Stein Highlights Efforts to Raise Pay, Recruit, and Retain Talented Educators in Greensboro

Today Governor Josh Stein hosted a roundtable with pre-service, student, and beginning teachers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Education to highlight recent investments to recruit, support, and retain excellent teachers. During his visit, Governor Stein toured the school's American Sign Language Lab, Student Educator Learning Factory (SELF) Design Studio, and Teaching Resources Center.

"North Carolina's teachers do some of the most important work in our state - educating students for future success - and we must value their work," said Governor Josh Stein. "This budget delivers the largest average teacher pay raise in 20 years, but it's still only a first step to competing with what other states are paying their educators. We must continue listening to teachers and giving them the support they need to succeed in the classroom."

"We are honored to welcome Governor Stein to UNCG to discuss education in North Carolina. Our mission to prepare educators is critical to the School of Education's goal of being a partner to our community," said Dr. Morgan Chitiyo, Dean of the University of North Carolina Greensboro School of Education. "Our students receive hands-on experience and high-quality instruction that prepare them to be leaders in the schools and communities they serve. We appreciate the Governor's willingness to hear directly from those in the profession as well as those who are the future of teaching."

In his latest NC Strong Update, Governor Stein highlighted how the state is working to keep North Carolina's public schools strong by investing in student learning and teacher recruitment and retention. Last month, Governor Stein signed into law North Carolina's first full state budget in more than two years. The budget raises average teacher pay by 8% - the largest average teacher pay raise in 20 years - and increases starting teacher pay by 17%, the largest starting teacher pay raise in nearly 50 years.

The budget also invests in proven programs that support student learning and teacher development. The budget expands the Advanced Teaching Roles program to more schools across the state, creating opportunities for excellent teachers to stay in the classroom while mentoring other teachers. It also creates more pipelines into the classroom through the TeachReadyNC program, which authorizes schools to start apprenticeships into teaching careers.