Hear Our Stories

Share your salary successes!

We want your success stories. They help create a salary "buzz," bolster our confidence, and build national momentum. Send your NEA local affiliate's success story, the salary numbers we need to know, and (if you've got time) a brief explanation of how it happened to collectivebargaining@nea.org.

Stories About ESPs  

Living Wage: How We Did It
New York State ESP leader Debbie Minnick describes how her local affiliate boosted starting paraprofessional pay by 50 percent.

Cooking Up a Campaign
Inspired by their peers, Washington ESPs fight for living wages.

Mary Jo O'Brien Shouldn't Have to Live in Debt
Mary Jo O’Brien is a Delaware State Education Association member who only earns $18,823 a year Her monthly rent for subsidized housing is larger than her paycheck, so she works two nights a week as a waitress. Even with a second job, she is constantly in debt.

Why Money Matters
Some educators live in shelters.
Others work five jobs to make ends meet.
And for all of us, a lack of professional pay shortchanges our schools.

Reaching for a Living Wage
NEA rallies for educators forced to choose between heat and groceries.

Paging the School Nurse
School nurses in St. Louis, Missouri, juggle some very complex duties. Finally, their work is being recognized—in the form of better pay.

Sign 'Em Up!
In Arkansas, a gutsy custodian tells what it takes to bargain a solid  agreement for support professionals—against the odds.

'We're Worth It!'
Living wage crusader Debbie Minnick tells ESPs how to organize for a decent raise.

Putting a Price on School Service
ESPs contribute more to school districts than privateers. 

• Read stories from teachers