Where I Stand on Teacher Pay in Florida

By Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large)

Every challenge in education brings an opportunity to lead better. One of the reasons I am running for the Pinellas County School Board is because I believe in transparency and accountability when it comes to how we value the people shaping our children’s futures.

Florida’s teachers are doing some of the hardest and most important work in our state, yet they are being compensated near the bottom of the national scale. According to the National Education Association, the average Florida teacher earns about $54,875 a year, ranking 50th in the nation. When you adjust for cost of living, Florida likely falls to last place. Teachers in Georgia, Texas, and even Mississippi have more purchasing power despite lower costs in their states. That is unacceptable for a state as large and economically strong as Florida.

The state has focused on raising starting salaries, which is a positive step, but veteran teachers have been left behind. Many educators with 10 or 20 years of experience now earn only slightly more than new hires. This salary compression hurts morale and sends the wrong message to the very people we rely on to mentor and grow new teachers.

As a leader, I can guarantee that pay alone does not solve every issue. No matter how much someone is paid, a culture of disrespect, endless compliance, and lack of appreciation will wear anyone down. But as a former case manager, I can also say that appreciation without appropriate compensation, especially as housing costs rise, is not the answer either.

My View and School Board Solutions

If elected, I would advocate for the School Board to:

• Conduct an annual cost-of-living and regional competitiveness review so teacher pay keeps pace with inflation and stays top five among southern states.

• Prioritize salary supplements for veteran teachers, mentors, and hard-to-fill positions.

• Increase transparency by publishing an annual pay report comparing Pinellas to nearby counties and state averages.

• Advocate at the state level for comprehensive pay structures that reward both experience and performance, not just entry-level positions.

• Strengthen district culture by creating recognition programs, leadership pipelines, and real avenues for teacher feedback.

As someone who has worked in helping professions my entire life and managed staff who do the same, I can say this plainly: for Florida to rank this low is unacceptable. There is no logical argument for it. We cannot say we want stronger education for our kids and then underpay the people responsible for delivering it. Respect should not just be spoken. It should be shown, and it should be sustainable.

This is my current view based on the information I have today. I will always strive to present balanced, fact-based ideas and remain open to learning as new facts emerge. Growth means continuing to listen and improve.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large), and do not represent the official position of any organization, agency, or governing body.