Governor McCrory Talks Teacher Pay, Education Improvements On First Day Of School At Newton-Conover High School | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Newton, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory welcomed teachers and students across the state to a new school year during a visit to Newton-Conover High School today. After touring several classrooms, the governor held a round-table meeting with teachers to discuss his administration's efforts to improve education and increase teacher pay. The governor also applauded the school for achieving the best high school graduation rate in the state at 97 percent.
    "While a lot has changed since I was a student-teacher, I have never forgotten the lessons I learned and have respected teachers ever since," said Governor McCrory. "As teachers and students go back to school, I'm proud of what we have accomplished to improve education in North Carolina and to boost average teacher pay to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history."

    Since 2013, the McCrory administration has invested more than $1 billion in new funding for teacher pay, including the largest teacher pay raise in the nation.

    The most recent budget signed by Governor McCrory includes an average 4.7 percent raise that boosts the average teacher pay to more than $50,000 for the first time in state history. With the robust health and retirement benefits provided to every teacher, average total compensation totals $67,000.

    To ensure students have the resources they need to succeed, funding for textbooks and digital resources has tripled since Governor McCrory entered office in 2013. Additionally, increased funding for classroom connectivity will make North Carolina one of the first states in the nation to connect all classrooms to robust Wi-Fi by 2018.

    Since 2013, K-12 education funding has increased by 13 percent and education comprises 57 percent of the state's $22.3 billion budget.

• Contact:McCrory Communications
•     govpress@nc.gov