Marcy Grauer, a veteran teacher at Killearn Lakes Elementary School, says her salary doesn’t amount to her current cost of living, especially after she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the start of the 2024 school year.
“Throughout this battle for my life and my health, I have had to balance my own personal well-being with my time in the classroom,” Grauer said, holding back tears.
Grauer was among several Leon County teachers attending a school board meeting Tuesday to ask the district to support them with better pay.
“I can’t afford to be out of work to take care of myself, so every day I show up because what I do matters,” Grauer said. “I simply ask you to do the same, help us to have extra breathing room in our salary.”
The Leon County Teachers Association has been bargaining with the district since April 2023. Their current proposal is roughly $6.7 million for salary raises, especially for veteran teachers. The district is offering about $4 million, which would apply to salaries for the 2023-24 school year contracts.