Chad Wilson
I am a 16-year veteran who became an educator with the intention to, as Ann Liberman wrote, “Empathize with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.” Every day when I wake up and every night when I go to sleep, I worry about my students, athletes, and our community. Did they eat? Do they have a place to go after school? Do they have a safe place to sleep? How can I help them? Do they have calculators for tests?
My name is Chad Wilson, and I am an educator and coach at Watkins Mill High School. The challenge before this council, to fund a budget of this importance, is not a decision that can be taken lightly. This decision directly affects the most important resource and gift we have in this county: our children.
We are here to answer a fundamental question: What will Education in Montgomery County look like going forward?
Educators, Administrators, and Support Professionals all work to light a spark that will be the key to opening doors that are otherwise unimaginable. When I get to school, my colleagues and I help feed, clothe, mentor, and guide students to be the best they can be. As one of my students said today “Mr. Wilson you are like my tutor, you create a safe space for me, you mentor me, and you look out for me. Thank you.”
But what happens when I am gone? What happens to these students who don’t have a teacher to help them out? What happens to the countless classes of students from elementary through high school who have no teacher because those jobs remain unfilled?
Balancing all these questions and concerns with the pressures of raising my own children, my health, my financial outlook, and my work-life balance is the main cause of teacher burnout. And I feel it too.
The Reality is WE as Educators, Administrators, and Support Professionals care. Day after day, when over 43% of us cannot even live where we work? We Care. Teachers constantly sacrifice time with our own children, deal with financial difficulties, work multiple jobs, and, as my wife and I do, add a line to our budget for my students and athletes and their needs. When I say ‘Budget,’ I just don’t mean money, I mean TIME and EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT.
It is time for you, as elected officials, to match our time and emotional investment. Dark pictures on social media overlooking school stairwells in the evening is not what I mean.
The reality is this Budget will show the amount of care the county council has in answering those questions and caring for our children.
There is a national shortage of educators. You have heard this enough already, but humor me for a few seconds. More educators are leaving the profession because of burnout, realizing they are underpaid and mistreated, and confronted with an impossible task with limited resources. MCPS Educators make 20% less than similarly credentialed and educated professionals. I would never ask you to drive your car with no gas in it, and yet we have educators who use sick days because they cannot afford to put gas in their car. There is no education “pipeline” to replace us, but there are off ramps for us in Montgomery County.
Since 2019, Frederick County raised their lowest salaries by 12.6% and highest by 6.4%, Howard has done the same by 15.9% and 4.3% respectively, Prince Georges County by 9.2% and 4%. Us? 3.5% and .49% respectively. Throw in not being able to live where you work because the cost of living is 45% higher than the national average. Add it all up and what will Montgomery County look like when the Blueprint is implemented and every county in Maryland has a salary starting at $60,000? You are up against a clock, like an old-fashioned alarm clock, that is about to go off.
You all advocated for the Blueprint, helped it pass, and then ran on that record, so what sense does it make to not do everything to fund it?
Without this revenue enhancement measure, we will not be able to make this profession more diverse.
I started with a quote, so I will conclude with a few.
“Children should see themselves in the adults in their classroom”. That was you, Councilmember Albornoz.
“Black and Brown students will aspire to be teachers if they see themselves in their educators”. That was you, Councilmember Fani-Gonzalez.
“Education is the great equalizer. Its what taught me the value of public service.” That was you, Councilmember Friedson.
Minority educators make 60% of what their degree is worth, while also carrying the highest percentage of student loans. Why be a math teacher when you can earn double being an engineer? Why be a Technology teacher when you can make 2.5 times more if you go into IT? Why be an Elementary school teacher when you can make 3 times as much money working in the private sector as a corporate trainer?
Ask yourself what kind of future you want for our schools and community, and then make the fundamental choice to invest in the future of our children.
