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Home : 2003 : January : 11

Live in NC
By Carolyn B.

You asked about North Carolina. There is an abundance of teaching positions here. North Carolina hires many teachers from out of state to meet demand.

To answer your question about unions in NC: North Carolina teachers
have an OPTION to join the national teacher's organization (NEA). They join the North Carolina chapter of that organization. My husband is a North Carolina teacher, and he is a member of that organization. The only thing that membership in that organization does for you is provide liability insurance (in the event of a lawsuit), legal counsel, life insurance, and discounts on hotels,

etc. You can check out their website online to get the details. Teachers are not allowed to go on strike, so members in the union do not go on strike for better benefits, i. e., pay and insurance.

To give you a realistic picture of teaching here: Teachers are being paid a bit below the national average. The former governor pushed to increase salaries for teachers, and great strides were made in that area. However, the state is financially strapped. It is in financial trouble, so teachers did not receive a raise this year; they only received a step increase.

I drive across the border and teach in South Carolina. SC is also cutting back costs. They now have a state "education" lottery (proceeds to education), including the power ball, so some of this funding is now being made available to schools. North Carolina stubbornly refuses to begin having a lottery.

I hope this helps.