Striking Pay Dirt in Wyoming

The good ol’ days in Wyoming weren’t so long ago. Twenty years ago, teacher salaries in the Cowboy State ranked sixth in the nation. But oh, did they decline—faster than the buffalo—all the way down to 42nd.

But thanks to a vibrant state economy tied closely to natural gas industries and the perseverance of the Wyoming Education Association (WEA), a new boom has struck. This year, legislators approved a 22 percent jump in funding.

Already a half-dozen districts have boosted teacher pay to at least $40,000 (NEA’s minimum goal), and one to $50,000. Average starting salary probably will increase by about $6,000, says outgoing WEA President Gary McDowell. “We’ve already started to see...a larger pool of applicants, and a stronger pool,” he says. And, “More people are going to stay longer—and that’s really important to providing a high-quality education.”

The state also has created teacher “mentor” positions in every school and added five days a year for professional development. But none of this was as simple as panning for gold. For years, WEA has been litigating and working with legislators for a fair funding system. “It’s been a long, arduous journey,” McDowell says. “But we’re starting to see some real benefits.”