CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Clay County School Board recently approved teacher salary increases for the 2025-2026 school year, but nearly half of the district’s teachers won’t receive a raise.
However, the announcement is sparking bigger questions of why teacher pay varies so widely depending on the school district, as some educators make thousands of dollars more just by crossing county lines.
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Following the school board’s decision on Wednesday night, which left about 45% of Clay County teachers without a pay raise, there’s growing concern that many may leave for districts like Duval, which offer significantly higher pay for experienced teachers.
The decision led Vicki Kidwell, president of the Clay County Education Association, to ask a question many teachers in Clay County are wondering: “Why can I go across the bridge and make $20,000 more?”
“You heard the testimonies about the dedication of our teachers, the passion of our teachers. That doesn’t pay the bills,” Kidwell added.
The school board’s decision to limit raises only to teachers with 10 or more years of experience left many educators disappointed. Those eligible will see pay increases ranging from $400 to $800.
Kidwell worries this pay gap could lead to teacher departures and impact Clay County’s top “A” school district ranking.
“I think we’re an A district because of our teachers, so how many teachers are going to leave before we aren’t an A anymore?” she said.
Data shows that in Duval County, teachers with 27 years of experience can earn between $67,300 and $73,300, depending on their degree.
In contrast, Clay County teachers with the same experience make about $54,500, though the board approved an $800 raise for teachers with 21-plus years of experience.
Tammie Brooks-Evans, president of Duval Teachers United, expressed frustration over the pay difference.
“It’s actually really annoying to just know that someone working in one county, just one county over, can find themselves making so much less than another county,” Brooks-Evans said.
Duval County teachers also receive thousands of dollars in pay through a property tax increase, though Brooks-Evans says it still isn’t enough.
“Our teachers get between $7,730 and $9,370, based on what their salary is. With the referendum, they receive that as additional pay,” she said.
Kidwell hopes Clay County will find a way to pay teachers what they deserve.
“It’s very hard for us as teachers not to feel defeated. It’s hard for us as teachers not to feel disrespected,” she said.
Clay County Schools responded to questions about pay disparities by acknowledging a $60 million budget shortfall they are working to address.
The district said in a statement:
“Clay County District Schools recognizes the vital role our employees play in the success of our schools and aims to provide competitive compensation. The Board is committed to providing comprehensive increases to all employees; however, the district is currently addressing significant financial factors beyond the organization’s control.
The District has proactively addressed a financial shortfall exceeding $60 million through strategic mitigation efforts. Some of these actions included substantial budget reductions, the reallocation of positions, comprehensive reviews of all vendor contracts, and the implementation of student enrollment initiatives.
Despite current financial challenges, the Board has maintained the employee healthcare contribution rates at their current levels. By absorbing the entirety of the insurance premium increases since the 2019-20 academic year, the Board has successfully prevented any rise in employee health premiums.
We are actively developing a sustainable financial plan focused on increasing revenue, enabling us to provide competitive salaries for our employees once again.
The District remains committed to its employees and will continue to advocate for their interests with state legislators as we collectively manage this fiscal challenge. We encourage all Clay County District Schools employees to join us in advocating for public education.”
Spokesperson for Clay County Schools
The Clay County Education Association will vote on the school board’s decision on Dec. 3.