State, national leaders celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week
State and national leaders are joining the celebration for this year’s national Teacher Appreciation Week.
Gov. Josh Stein issued a press release and video thanking the state’s teachers for their commitment to their students.
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“Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting inspiring and enthusiastic teachers who go above and beyond to shape our next generation,” said Stein in the release. “You show up for our students, and we have a responsibility to show up for you.”
Stein’s statement also reiterated his budget priorities for education, released in a proposal last month. That proposal includes an average 11% pay raise for teachers, and would raise starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast.
Legislators convened on April 21 for the General Assembly’s short session. Disagreements between the House and Senate about pay raises and personal income taxes led to a budget impasse last year, leaving North Carolina as the only state in the country without a budget at the end of 2025.
Learn more about the 2026 legislative short session
In North Carolina, there are more than 100,000 teachers across the state, according to the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) “Highlights” report for 2025-26.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green posted a social media video thanking all those teachers for their commitment to students.
“You are truly champions of public education and I want to express my deepest gratitude for the work you do each and every day,” Green said in the video. “Your influence extends far beyond academics. You inspire, you uplift, you challenge, and you care. You help shape not only strong leaders and learners, but strong individuals who are prepared to lead, to contribute, and to thrive.”
And at the national level, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon posted a video message on Facebook thanking teachers, saying that “teaching is the most noble profession that we have.”
“This month, we celebrate the incredible teachers who show up every day to support students and strengthen our classrooms,” she said in the post. “Thank you for helping shape the next generation and for the lasting difference you make in the lives of students across the country.”
The U.S. Department of Education also published a video message for Teacher Appreciation Week.
“A great teacher doesn’t just teach — they change lives. Thank you for all you do!” the department said.
Teaching in the news
Ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week, thousands of North Carolina teachers gathered in Raleigh for a rally spearheaded by the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) last Friday, May 1.
Tamika Walker Kelly, NCAE president, said in an April press release that NCAE “will not back down” in “demanding qualified educators in every classroom and safe, well-resourced schools for every student.”
The march came days after the National Education Association (NEA) ranked North Carolina 43rd in the nation for average teacher pay for the second year in a row. The NEA also estimated that North Carolina is projected to drop to 46th in the rankings for the 2025-26 school year.
“Dedicated educators show up every day in classrooms across this country to inspire, support, and lift up their students, but too many are struggling to stay in the profession they love,” said NEA President Becky Pringle in a press release with the report. “They deserve pay that reflects their expertise, the strong support they need to succeed, and the respect that honors the essential role they play in shaping the future of this nation.”