A closer look at local teacher salaries and why many say they’re underpaid

SOUTHERN COLORADO (KRDO) -- Students walked-out of Liberty High School Wednesday, protesting a new Academy District 20 schedule decision to take a planning period away from high school teachers, while not offering additional pay.

On February 2, Superintendent Thomas Gregory sent an email to all faculty and staff in District 20 informing high school teachers that "a full teaching load for high school teachers will include twelve-course sections" starting fall of 2021.

Currently, D20 high school teachers are required to teach 11-course sections.

For teachers just starting their careers, D20 offers $42,000. That's a higher starting salary than D11, D49, D70, and D60.

But property values continue to rise for homes in the D20 area, making it more expensive for educators to both live and teach there.

But amongst the three largest districts in El Paso County and the two largest in Pueblo County, D20 ranks fourth out of five, including behind Pueblo's D60.