WHY STATE’S TEACHERS ARE FEELING SQUEEZED

Nearly a third in Texas report holding 2nd job during school year.

Nearly one-third of Texas teachers work a second job during the school year to support themselves

and their families, according to a survey by the Texas State Teachers Association.

The survey by the teachers union found that in addition to moonlighting, teachers spend an average of 17 hours per week outside of class time grading papers, preparing lessons and performing other job-related duties.

“Although the weekend gives students a break from their classes and time to relax with their families, for many teachers Saturdays and Sundays are spent working at extra jobs and preparing for next week’s teaching duties,” said the group’s president, Noel Candelaria.

The union commissioned the survey over the summer, with 837 of its 60,000 member teachers responding.

Teachers who responded to the survey said they spent an average of $656 of their own money per year for classroom supplies and an average $326 per month on health insurance premiums.

The state teachers group noted that lawmakers haven’t increased the $75 monthly contribution the state makes to teacher insurance premiums in almost 15 years.

Texas ranks 26th in teacher pay, according to 2015-16 data from the National Education Association.

Texas teachers receive an average salary of $51,758 — $6,306 less than the national average — while the state’s education funding is below the national average at $2,700 per student. The survey also found that:

86 percent of moonlighting teachers said they wanted to quit their extra jobs but would need a pay raise of about $9,000 to do so.

49 percent of teachers work jobs over the summer.

53 percent were seriously considering leaving the teaching profession.

95 percent opposed using a single test to determine whether students should move on to the next grade. Fifth- and eighth-graders in Texas must pass state standardized tests for grade promotion.