New data from the Tennessee comptroller’s office highlights stark differences in teacher pay across our region. The updated dashboard shows the average pay for teachers and principals at school systems across the state.

One of the most striking revelations is a huge pay gap of as much as $15,000 between systems.

SEE THE DATA |K-12 Dashboard

Unicoi County is one of those rural systems that just doesn’t have the money to pay more.

“Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of really good teachers leave our system,” director of schools John English said. “I think they left with a heavy heart, but they also left with, ‘How can I not?’”

Unicoi County teachers make an average of $47,000 per year. In our region, Johnson County pays the least at just $44,000.

Compare that to Johnson City’s average of $61,000. They’ve made it a policy to stay in the top 10 percent statewide.

“We’re prioritizing teachers over administrators, over some other things, over technology sometimes,” school board chair Kathy Hall said.

As Tennessee works on plans to reform education funding, school leaders hope raising teacher pay will be part of the equation, but it’s unlikely to remove the pay gap. It’s not state funding but the fact that Johnson City residents pay far more in taxes that has led to higher-paid teachers.

Still, Unicoi County school leaders argue everyone needs a raise.

“Whether you’re talking about Unicoi County or Johnson City, teachers are underpaid,” English said. “It’s a really hard profession and it’s a really important work, so I‘m hoping a we’re reviewing the funding formula, that’s taken into account.”

Hall said, “We certainly hope that the governor and our legislators put more money towards education. We are 44th, I think, in the country for expenditures per pupil, and we would love to see that go up.”