By: Maria- Paula


Delegate Nadarius Clark (D), Suffolk re-introduced legislation to raise the baseline salary for all public-school teachers in Virginia and ensure that it does not fall below America’s national average. Named HB 187, the bill mirrors legislation, HD-84, that Del. Clark brought forward in his first year as delegate in 2022 that would further require both instructional and non-instructional support staff, including teacher aids and resource officers, to also benefit from the new raise.

Data from the National Education Association (2021/ 2022) shows that the average Virginia teacher makes $61,367 annually. The data that excludes the most recent pay raises in the commonwealth translates to more than $5,000 below the national average.
Del. Clark, a working-class activist, organizer, and mental health counsellor, shared his concerns as he reintroduced the bill with a view to a new opportunity to fully fund public schools by putting teachers and their students first.

“Our Commonwealth is losing well trained, experienced, and qualified educators to neighbouring states that have made clear in their budgets that public education is a top priority. HB 187 will ensure that we are investing in the next generation of Virginians by paying our teachers what they deserve,” said Del. Clark.
The proposal comes just months after a state report found that nearly 5% of all teaching positions were vacant at the onset of the school year 2023/2024.
Legislature Clark’s bill follows a precedent set by the House Education Committee chair, Delegate Sam Rasoul, who also introduced a bill to raise teacher pay in Virginia to the national average in 2023. The legislation was later killed on a party line vote by the then-Republican majority.

“Virginia teachers cannot adequately educate our children if they are worried about having to make ends meet or putting food on their table. Del. Clark’s bill will not only ensure that we can be competitive in attracting and retaining world-class local teachers in our public school system, but also ensure that we are supporting our teachers and rewarding their work developing the next generation,” said Del. Rasoul.

The pay rise campaign is planned on a scale over a period of four years.

You can learn more about the campaign at Delegate Clarks page.