County educators' pay has steadily increased
Columbia County school officials recently adopted a $173 million budget for next school year and likely will give it final approval at a Tuesday meeting.
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About 90 percent funds salaries for teachers, administrators and staff.
In Columbia County, teachers fare far better than their counterparts throughout the state -- nearly $10,000 a year better.
The average annual teacher salary in Georgia is $43,862, according to a November survey conducted by the state Department of Labor.
The average teacher salary in Columbia County for the 2008-09 school year was $52,527 annually, according to statistics. Even new teachers earned $1,452 more each year in Columbia County than the state average.
And teacher pay has steadily increased each year. In 2001, the average salary was $44,786 for Columbia County educators and it has steadily increased each year. The biggest jump came in 2004, when the average salary rose to $48,564 from $45,400 the previous year.
Also, the gap between the average teacher salary and the new teacher salary has increased. New teachers made $4,786 less each year than the county average in 2001. Last year, new teachers made $7,213 less.
The figures exclude such high-paying positions as central office administrators, such as Superintendent Charles Nagle, who earns $183,052 annually. Twenty Columbia County employees earn six-figure salaries, including Deputy Superintendent Sandra Carraway, who makes $135,401 a year.
The figures also don't account for higher pay earned by teachers with advanced degrees or certifications, of which Columbia County has many. For example, a National Board Certified Teacher earns about $5,000 more each year than those without the certification.
Columbia county schools 20 highest paid employees in 2008-09
Superintendent Charles Nagle - $183,052
Deputy Superintendent Sandra Carraway - $135,401
Associate Superintendent Lauren Williams - $129,713
Assistant Superintendent Deborah Franklin - $117,622
Lakeside High School Principal Jeff Carney - $110,920
Evans High School Principal Don Brigdon - $107,920
Greenbrier High School Principal Margie Hamilton - $105,053
Former Harlem High School Principal Alan Griffin - $104,986
Controller Pat Sullivan - $104,986
Columbia Middle School Principal Donna Anderson - $104,298
Title 1 Director Lisa Soloff - $104,298
Assistant Superintendent Robbie Jarrell - $103,469
Bel Air Elementary School Principal Mark Boyd - $101,351
Lewiston Elementary School Principal Michael Doolittle - $101,351
Nutrition Services Director Jane Wiggins - $101,351
Director of Career and Technical Education Michael Canady - $101,298
Lakeside Middle School Principal Felicia Turner - $101,298
Director of Special Education Lisa Hill - $101,298
Director of Middle School Student Learning Mike Lindsey - $101,298
Evans High School Assistant Principal Betty Peebles - $100,846
Click here for a database of salaries for all Columbia County Board of Education employees.