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Arizona Teachers React To Signs Promoting Higher Pay In Texas

Texas Teacher Poaching Billboard
Billboards have been appearing throughout the Phoenix area advertising job opportunities for teachers in Texas.

Billboards have been appearing throughout the Phoenix area advertising job opportunities for teachers in Texas. The signs promote jobs in the Fort Worth Independent School District, the fifth-largest district in the Lone Star State.

"Not only do we have a good school district, we have a good community which they can live and raise a family if they have one," said Clint Bond, a school district spokesman who spoke to KJZZ's The Show earlier this week.

The starting salary for teachers, which is promoted on the signs, is $52,000, which is higher than what many Arizona teachers make. Noah Karvelis, a music teacher in Littleton, is an organizer for Arizona Educators United and the #RedForEd movement.

"I know teachers here that have been teaching 10 or 20 years and they don't make $52,000," Karvelis said. "That's $20,000 more than I made in my first year here in Arizona. It really puts things into perspective when you're driving down the road and you could be making $20,000 if you just move states right now."

Karvelis said he believes some educators may apply for the higher paying job in Texas because they love to teach.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The creditline of the photo has been modified to correct the name of the Cronkite News photographer.