Here are six quick resources on wage issues for educators:

Professional Pay - NEA Web area on pay issues for teachers and ESP.

Rankings & Estimates: Rankings of the States 2005 and Estimates of School Statistics 2006(, 1MB,  130pp.) - NEA's latest report on school statistics, facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education.

Starting Salary Information Listed State by State - State-by-state chart for finding out average starting salaries for new teachers and state needs for more teachers in certain subject areas. 

Teacher Pay 1940 - 2000: Losing Ground, Losing Status - An NEA researcher's analysis of compensation for teachers vs. other professionals.

Pension and Retirement Security Resources from NEA - Six publications to help you understand, defend, and strengthen the quality and level of retirement benefits for yourself and other public education employees.

An Ongoing Record of Your Professional Life

Maintaining a teaching portfolio can serve a number of purposes. For example, it can provide a record of your background and teaching experience. It can help you reflect on your work with students. It can help you see your professional progress and growth. And it can keep all this information at your fingertips.

Create a teaching portfolio that is minimal and meaningful. Your portfolio might include some or all of the following:

• Your professional background
• Class descriptions: time, grades, and content
• Written examinations: National Teacher's Exam, state licensure test
• A personal statement of teaching philosophy and goals
• Documentation of what you've done to improve your teaching (e.g., a list of seminars you've attended)
• Implemented lesson plans, handouts, and notes
• Graded student work such as tests, quizzes, and class projects
• Videotape or audiotape of classroom lessons
• Colleague observation records
• Written reflections on teaching
• Photographs of bulletin boards, chalkboards, or projects

Related Links

 Looking Good on Paper -- Having a stellar resume and portfolio will set you apart from the crowd. NEA, Tomorrow's Teachers (Spring 2005).

 Your Professional Papers -- A checklist of papers to file in a safe place.

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