Pay Scales

I thought the discussions on pay scales and merit pay were eye-opening. I didn't get into teaching for money. I had no idea what teachers made, so when I started teaching and saw how the scale was arranged in steps, I just thought "that's the way it is," and accepted it without question. I knew that eventually I'd be at the top (bottom) and I expected to be a better teacher each year as I participated in professional development activities, gained new understandings of children and families, and collaborated with others. I have been naive about the fact that other people feel upset that they are getting paid less for the same job. I liked the idea of merit pay that was shared about the Colorado school. I wasn't sure that there would be a way to have merit pay that was reasonable to implement, but this sounds like it could work. I am competitive by nature, so I could see how merit pay in that district would help me to develop as a teacher, and as a better collaborator. For me, it would be a win-win situation. I believe most people would feel that way too, and maybe it would even weed out those who don't want to put in extra effort.