KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County Schools passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Thursday. Included in the budget is funding for pay raises across the board, bringing educator salaries to market value for the first time in decades.
School leaders said it's worth every penny. Teachers in the school district also said they finally feel seen and heard. Chantel Antonas is a seventh grade English teacher at Cedar Bluff Middle.
She said she joined the field because it focuses on serving students and giving back to the community. She said she earns around $45,000 per year with a master's degree and five years of experience in the district.
"If I were a single-income household, I don't know that I would be able to afford an apartment to rent right now," she said. "This money will encourage those really awesome teachers to keep teaching."
She said she teaches around 90 students, and her salary does not match the cost of living. According to a district report, a rising sixth-year teacher with a master's degree will be able to make $58,000 per year in 2025, after the budget is approved — an increase of around $5,000 compared to 2024.
"They are very excited about the pay schedule and salary study," said Betsy Henderson, a KCS board member.
Teachers who stay with the school district for 20 years will also see a boost to their salary, starting at around $74,000 per year. In 2024, they could make around $66,000 per year.
Another teacher, Seth Peevely, said he has been with KCS for around ten years and makes around $57,000 per year. He is a father and a husband.
"We have found ourselves flat broke, essentially, after all of our bills have been paid," he said. "Having a pay increase will give us a leg up that we need."
With a master's degree, he can make a starting salary of around $65,000 per year in 2025 — an increase from around $59,000 per year compared to 2024.
"Having a pay increase will give us a leg up that we need," he said.
The budget and new pay schedule still need to be approved by the Knox County Commission before it can go into effect. The commission is expected to have a budget hearing and vote in the next two months.