New teacher pay plan has teachers worried

Iowa’s Department of Education director says teachers around the state are nervous about the teacher pay plan being drafted at the statehouse.Education director Ted Stilwell says teachers have essentially been paid the same way for nearly 80 years, and the changes being considered will dramatically alter that. But Stilwell says that’s a good thing. He says they’re looking at changing that would provide stronger continuing education and would create different levels of teaching, so teachers are trained as they go.Stilwell says teacher quality in Iowa is threatened by retirements and better pay in other states.Stilwell says it will “take time and patience” among teachers and legislators who want immediate changes in teacher salaries, as there’s not enough money for dramatic pay hikes, nor is it possible to make such complex changes quickly.