Arizona Teachers Walk Out; Oklahoma May Follow Suit

PHOENIX, AZ – Nine elementary schools in Phoenix and surrounding communities were forced to close Wednesday as teachers staged a protest over low pay. More than 300 teachers in the Pendergrast Elementary School District staged a sick-out, affecting schools in Phoenix, Avondale, and Glendale.

The district said that the nine schools were forced to close for the day because there wouldn't be enough teachers to supervise the students.

Arizona teachers have been increasing their activities to raise awareness to the fact that they are among the lowest paid teachers in the country. One teacher posted her pay stub online last week to drive the point home.

"No one goes into teaching for the money," wrote Elizabeth Milich. "But we do need to eat and have a home!"

The Arizona protests – dubbed the "RedforEd" campaign as protesters are urged to wear red – are part of a growing movement around the country. It started last month in West Virginia where teachers went on strike for eight days.

Oklahoma teachers appear to be on the verge of following in the footsteps of West Virginia.

Teachers there have not had a raise in ten years. They say unless a plan is in place by April 2 to hike their pay and increase education funding, they will walk. The average teacher in Oklahoma earns less than the average teacher in West Virginia.

Back in Arizona, many of the teachers who skipped school on Wednesday went to the state capital to draw attention to their plight.

"Another huge turnout," Noah Karvalis, a public school teacher and leader of Arizona Educators United, which organized the protest, wrote on Twitter. "How bad must work conditions be if educators are willing to take this type of action?

'Clearly, something must change."

According to the National Education Association – the largest national teachers' organization – at $47,218, Arizona has the 37th lowest average salary for teachers in the country. The average salary actually decreased .5 percent in 2016 from the year before, the largest decrease in the country.

The NEA's research shows that the average teacher salary around the country is $58,353. That was up 1.3 percent from 2015.

New York had the highest average salary in 2016 at $79,152 and South Dakota had the lowest at $42,025.

Photo of Arizona teachers at the state capital Wednesday via Rep. Athena Salman.