By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
May 17, 2010, 6:35AM
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/half_of_nj_six-figure_teachers.html
The Star-LedgerVoting at the St. Cloud Elementary School in West Orange. Half of the 1,800 New Jersey public school teachers who earned more than $100,000 per year for the 2008-09 school year worked in schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, according to a report on NorthJersey.com
The report said Passaic had 115 teachers with salaries above $100,000, the largest number within one district in the state. Other towns with teachers making more than $100,000 annually included Hackensack, 98, Teaneck, 93, Wayne 81, and Ridgewood, 71.
The median pay for all teachers in the state was $57,467, while in Bergen County it was $61,096 in Passaic County is was $56,350.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/half_of_nj_six-figure_teachers.html
48 comments:
We pay high salaries to attract & retain the best talent -- just like a Wall Street firm or law firm.
Cut the teachers salaries, then watch our educational performance drop. Soon we'll be looking like a school in Arkansas or Mississippi.
I don't know how many kids you put through this district 8:18, but many of the highest paid are the worst ones. You've got to be REA or BOE.
Eliminate tenure and implement merit pay, and I will be glad to pay $100K for a good teacher. I just don't like paying $100K based solely on seniority and advanced degrees from 3rd-rate colleges.
9:47am - you are so right . . . so right.
"We pay high salaries to attract & retain the best talent -- just like a Wall Street firm or law firm.
Cut the teachers salaries, then watch our educational performance drop. Soon we'll be looking like a school in Arkansas or Mississippi."
Right.
That's why these kids can't add and need math tutors.
If you want just a little taste of how our money is wasted, check this link. Just make sure you're sitting down.
http://php.app.com/edstaff/results2.php?county=BERGEN&district=RIDGEWOOD+VILLAGE&school=DISTRICT+OFFICE&lname=&fname=&job1=%25&Submit=Submit
The highest paid ARE NOT TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM IN RIDGEWOOD ...
look online at the salaries for 2008-2009 ....
it shows by district
it shows how many classes taught
ITS ADMINISTRATION IN RIDGEWOOD THAT IS BLOATED
Talk to the state, 9:56. Our district is required to follow the tenure laws.
8:18 its a union job. The old dead weight gets the high pay so as far as 'attracting' talent like Wall street...you are as clueless as a buyer of a CDO! They are compensated based on years in service, not merit. Typical union job that never rewards initiative or innovation.
like any teacher in ridgewood would leave to go to another "higher paying" school? where would that possibly be? and, why would there be an open job there since nobody leaves teaching jobs due to tenure?
personally, i think you could pay teachers *less* here because it's a relatively good work environment in the suburbs. you should have to pay more in high crime or inconvenient areas.
it's similar to if you get a job at a wall street-type job in the 'burbs -- you always make less there.
why do we always think we have to pay more for something because "we're ridgewood"?
every hear about getting value for your money?
-Thed.
I completely agree with 9:56 - My sister, who teaches in NJ, is an excellent math teacher per all her reviews to date, earned her undergrad from RPI, holds an MBA as well, earned her teaching cert at night while raising 3 kids, is losing her job so that her 23 year old colleague, who was always asking my sister for guidance/help with lesson plans, and whose boyfriend is related to the asst. superintendant, gets to keep hers - yes, I am sure the 23 year old makes less money than my sister so they are saving more by letting her go, but isn't knowledge/experience worth paying a little extra?! I am sure there are tenured teachers who should not be teaching anymore but will never lose their jobs due to the tenure crap that I doubt will go away anytime soon......
The Council last night voted to only cut $100K out of the school budget after the tax payers voted "no" to the school budget. Aaronson voted "no" and wanted no cuts in the budget. Its clear that the current Council members are misaligned with the home owners who pay the taxes! Mr. Aaronson - we will vote you out of office in two years when you run again. Our town needs to do more with less like every private sector company.The days of the tax payers being seen as ATM machines are over!
Laurie (12:47), if we are getting no money from Trenton, then let's drop tenure from the next contract. What are they going to do, withhold aid?
Hey guys, newsflash--- there were districts higher than Ridgewood. You're making it seem like our village is THE highest paid. Bergen County pays well because the schools are good and the schools are good b/c they pay well. Teachers are not rich folk. Get off it.
OMG 8:18! "Cut the teachers salaries, then watch our educational performance drop." 8:18 are you suggesting teachers would stop teaching or doing their job if the salary/package were slightly less? if their demands are not met will they deprive students an appropriate education?
a "competitive package" does not translate to one of highest paid or one of the most bloated packages. coupling a competitive package with working in a nice district like ridgewood would still attract talent. BTW 8:18 there are bad teachers in Ridgewood who were also attracted by those big dollars. Don’t kid yourself more does not necessarily mean better!
1:22 we are about to lose some wonderful teachers because of tenure already awarded to dead weight teachers, so I totally agree with you and 2:48, who hit the nail on the head.
BTW, that's not saying that all teachers with tenure are bad. Some are wonderful, but many stink and even their colleagues know it.
3:09 is clearly either Laurie Goodman, one of those dead weight teachers, or a decent teacher that is not making as much as some of his/her colleagues. Clearly though, the largest waste remains in the administrators and the most irritating in the Public Information Officer. Laurie Goodman reads these blogs and knows how we feel. Last night, she gave us all the finger along with the rest of the BOE and VC. Lets give it right back to all of them next chance we get and get others to do the same. DON'T WASTE ANY VOTES should be our new motto.
309- that's the logic that got the public officials' salaries so high in the first place. every town gets beat up in negotiations pegging salaries to what the next town makes.
ridgewood schools are not good because the teachers are paid well. R'wood would still have good teachers if they made less because it's a nice, safe town. they are good in large part because the residents are high achievers who take a lot of interest in their kids. the kids would most likely be successful with a different batch of teachers.
-Thed.
Along with the requisite Hondas and Toyota Prius's, there are a few BMW's and Mercedes. Even a Maserati.
2k a week for 10 months plus awesome benefits does not make one poor, either.
Bergen County pays well because the schools are good and the schools are good b/c they pay well.
AGREED!
If we cut teachers pay, we will wind up with third-world education performance that they have in states like Alabama, Mississippi & Arkansas.
Teachers are not rich folk. Get off it.
AGREED AGAIN!!
The anti-teacher bashing around here is shameful. Just shameful.
I casually checked the site showing teacher salaries and happened to spot two $100+K Ridgewood teachers who've taught my 2 kids for multiple years. Worth every penny - they are lifetime positive influences. I'm well beyond those days, myself, but still remember my best teachers.
since when is $100,000 a lot of money?
Who's got the Maserati? Do tell.
5:00pm $100,000 based on ten months of work, a 7.5 hour day with lunch, holidays off, and the salary does not reflect benefits package.
I for one do believe in appropriate compensation and certainly there are teachers who are worth their weight in gold.
However, this is bleeding the taxpayers of Ridgewood so there must be a balance. We start first year, right out of college teachers at $50,000 plus benefits and that is a hop, skip and a jump away from $100,000.
But mostly i am offended by a BOE that would fire teachers while retaining a PR person.
4:35,
Cut the BS...many teachers hold us parents in contempt. I have been on the inside and heard first hand. The old guard feed the newbies to the sharks. Change the salary guide to a flat percentage and eliminate tenure. Watch the performance rise.
Yep...$100k not a lot of money.
Math teacher, help me.
$103,700 top scale not counting longevity
185 days per year
7 hours per day
That's $80/hr PLUS
great health benefits
pension
3 personal days
10 sick days
Please spare us the fiddle music. It's a 'living wage' as the unions like to say.
Ridgewood teachers are overpaid and they play the game well - as someone said they go on and on for worthless degress from rinky dink colleges just to go up to grade 13 and 14 etc. on the pay scale. just look at the recent boe minutes - a somerville teacher went to 75K and then theres a ridge teacher moving into a "consultant" job (where's the experience) for $120 k - this is ridiculous, and then there's the $35 plus per hour chaperone fee. makes you wonder.
8:18 are you suggesting teachers would stop teaching or doing their job if the salary/package were slightly less? if their demands are not met will they deprive students an appropriate education?
3:51 -- Are you really this dopey to ask such an idiotic question? Or just trolling for a reaction?
It's the same as the "real world" of business.
Lower the salaries, and the high-paid, high-performing professionals (such as the many we have in Ridgewood schools) will choose to leave. Some may retire; some may choose to work elsewhere. What matters is that Ridgewood will lose some of its best teachers.
These teachers will likely be replaced by less-experienced, lower-paid teachers. Less experience means they have a learning curve to come up in their profession. They may become great teachers some day, but they shouldn't expect on Day 1 that they would perform at the same level as the high-performing teacher. Thus the drop in school performance.
Does that make sense now? I tried to make it as simple as possible, so that even you would understand.
OK, so 7:36, is it too much or is it a living wage? Once you decide, get back to me.
And last time I checked, myself and my colleagues have a 25 minute lunch. YES, you read correctly, 25 minutes.
Well 10:28 thats 5 minutes more than the kids get and what are you doing during free's or specials, mopping the bathrooms?
10:25 What an inspiration! Lets lower all the salaries and drive all of the overpaid dead weights out. The good, dedicated teachers will stay on and we can hire some fresh, decent teachers that actually have some enthusiasm to replace the crappy overpaid ones(like you 10:25) at a fraction of the price. Genius! Thank you!
Oh 10:28,
How much 'face time' is in your contract? You have no prep or no hall time? Why do I see some teachers at delis and eateries around town at 10:30am?
If you're not making enough money or don't have enough time to eat, please consider another public sector job. You see, with your skills and attitude, in the private sector you may get more lunchtime but your workdays are 2 hours longer and work 240 days. AND if you're lucky, almost make the same money.
I can't remeber the last time a Ridgewood teacher quit to take another, higher-paying job? Can anyone name one? They know that they have a great deal, which is why almost no one ever quits.
10:48 and 7:02-
I am not free during "specials", I teach 3 separate grade levels and am not in elementary. Fact 1.
We have a rotating schedule; some days I have only 1 "free" (actually called a prep period) and during that I prepare lessons, grade some papers, return parent phone calls/emails, prepare feedback for IEP meetings, parent meetings and so on. Fact 2.
Some days, I have 2 such periods. On those days, I feel like a queen! Having more than 3 minutes in between classes to use the bathroom is such a pleasure. Fact 3.
Anything else you would like to know? As long as it isn't mislabeled as "whining" I'll answer anything! And guess what? I don't even make $60K and have a BS, am working toward my Masters (not in education, but in my discipline) and am teaching just under 10 years in NJ.
11:34 Sounds like you have a great job. Try and see what its like getting health insurance without it. And don't forget the winter and spring breaks and the two months off in the summer and the fact that your busy work day ends in the afternoon. YOU SHOULD "FEEL LIKE A QUEEN" EVERYDAY. Too bad you're not more appreciative of what you have. If you're that unhappy you should leave. Our children deserve great, enthusiastic teachers for our tax dollars and I'm sure someone else would be thrilled to fill your position.
PS: Apparently, you also have time to BLOG during your busy day at work.
11:34 I appreciate your offer to "answer anything" and indeed, I do have questions. What school do you teach at? Sounds like you teach Gym, Art, or Foreign Language at one of the middle schools. Is it GW or BF and what is your specialty?
No worries. Teachers will never quit. Why? Because they are unionized throught NJ. The meaning? If they go to another town, they start at the bottom. As we all know, unions reward seniority. All that matters is date of hire, not competency. Same reason you never see a cop or fireman leave. Seniority is everything to a union member. Period.
Hello 10:25 (aka 11:34), 3:51 here! I guess if I were “trolling for a reaction” you are my Catch of the Day! And you call me dopey? When you use a quote please use it in context since my statement was in response to 8:18 “Cut the teachers salaries, then watch our educational performance drop.” I stand by my analysis that this infers teachers would withhold from students. But I suppose 10:25 (aka 11:34) you/your kids were not victims of teachers refusing to write college recommendations. Oh I know, I know, this is done on personal time (wink, wink) not during class while students are reading/writing/testing or those all important prep times.
And 10:25 (aka 11:34) the idea that less experienced teachers cannot perform the job adequately, due to a learning curve, is insulting. For God sakes, that means every parent in Ridgewood who finds their child in a class with a newer teacher should remove them immediately since, according to you, those kids will be victims of an inferior education. For the record, 10:25 (aka 11:34), some of the BEST teachers my kids have had were new to the profession. Unlike you, who sees them as less-experienced (not up to par but hopefully someday), I find them energetic, enthusiastic, refreshing, bright and eager to do their best! By the way, 10:25, new teachers are well compensated in Ridgewood starting at around $50,000 plus benefits!
And btw, I am out today for a funeral. Am I also not allowed to do that?
2:54, I am the teacher from 11:34. Can you tell me exactly where I said I was unhappy? The second a teacher talks about their job AT ALL everyone characterizes them as unhappy and complaining. Please tell me which words I used that conveyed unhappiness, and I will be willing to continue this dialogue despite the fact that you seem to have it out for me without even knowing me.
I am not 2:54 but i did go back and read the 11;34 post and honestly you just don't sound happy about your job. I think the "queen" thing was sarcastic and the bathroom comment did not convey jubilation. Sorry you are having to blog from a funeral.
I am 2:54 and 5:45 seems to have heard the same thing that I did. Don't forget about the lunch complaint and the salary complaint. On the other hand, I did not hear one positive word about your job.
You have a great job, but making those petty complaints in the face of that makes you less than a great teacher. Many people would love to be in your shoes, so if there is anything you have to complain about, please leave. We want teachers that want to be here for our kids and feel great about their jobs everyday.
Also, if being out today to attend this funeral was so important, how is it that you are blogging? How disrespectful. If you're not at the funeral or comforting the bereaved at 11:34 in the morning, if you're feeling good enough to toot your own horn on a blog site, then you should be at work doing what you are being paid to do. What is wrong with you?
11:34/5:22: you mentioned your salary and that you are going for your masters degree which reminded me that i forgot how much of that is paid for by the ridgewood taxpayers. and although i am sorry you are at a funeral today i believe that would is paid leave but i can't recall how many days you are paid for. but seriously are you posting on this blog while you are at a funeral?
Anonymous said...
11:34 I appreciate your offer to "answer anything" and indeed, I do have questions. What school do you teach at? Sounds like you teach Gym, Art, or Foreign Language at one of the middle schools. Is it GW or BF and what is your specialty?
3:53 PM
11:34 You made the offer and I asked nicely, so why are you responding to everyone but me?
10:28 You chose to be a teacher and were not forced to be one. You chose to have a 25 minute lunch, not us!
Here's a headline from this morning's NY Times:
N.Y. / REGION | May 20, 2010
Teachers Facing Weakest Market in Years
By WINNIE HU
In a profession long seen as recession-proof, applications far outnumber the jobs available for educators.
If 10:28 aka 11:24 aka 5:22 does not "feel like a queen" every day with her nearly $60,000 salary for her 10 months per year minus seasonal breaks, health benefits, job security, work day that ends in the afternoon as we pay for her to get her masters degree, and lets not forget personal days when she can blog at funerals, there is a line of people eager to take her place. You can leave anytime 10:28. We've got it covered. Apparently, not only do you have a BS, you're proficient at it.
Here's a headline from this morning's NY Times:
N.Y. / REGION | May 20, 2010
Teachers Facing Weakest Market in Years
By WINNIE HU
In a profession long seen as recession-proof, applications far outnumber the jobs available for educators.
If 10:28 aka 11:24 aka 5:22 does not "feel like a queen" every day with her nearly $60,000 salary for her 10 months per year minus seasonal breaks, health benefits, job security, work day that ends in the afternoon as we pay for her to get her masters degree, and lets not forget personal days when she can blog at funerals, there is a line of people eager to take her place. You can leave anytime 10:28. We've got it covered. Apparently, not only do you have a BS, you're proficient at it.
For example, a typical teacher in Rumson, where the median household income tops $146,000, makes $56,470. By contrast, a typical teacher with similar experience in the Ridgewood district — where the recent estimate of median income is $118,550 — makes $72,980.
I think its time all public employees be required to submit to random alcohol and drug tested. Since we pay so much, we are entitled to the best employees who can think and perform without anything dulling their senses. There cannot be a logical objection to this proposal.
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