Collier County educators demand pay raise as final vote delayed to Friday

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Collier County teachers rallied outside the district administrative building after their special meeting with Collier County Public Schools was postponed to later this week.

The meeting was supposed to be the final vote on Collier County teacher pay for the 2025-2026 school year. The district sent out an email earlier in the afternoon stating the meeting was postponed because one of their board members had a medical emergency, and that it is important all five board members are present to deliberate on the matter. 

Dozens of teachers still rallied despite the meeting being postponed, saying one board member shouldn't stop the hearing from moving forward. 

CCPS and the Collier County Education Association have been in negotiations since last June. The CCEA told WINK News that Collier County Public Schools is offering a maximum of 3% raise, which teachers say, is barely enough to get by.

"I raise three kids in this area. I cannot afford to live here. I live in Lee County and drive into Collier County just to be here. I get home at 10:30, 11 o'clock at night, and I am still in my classroom the next morning busting my rear, following their curriculum maps, I want my highly effective pay," Samantha Ehl, a Collier County teacher, said.

The current starting salary for  new Collier County teachers is an average of $57,000. The average salary for teachers is $74,271. 

CCPS is proposing a 1.1% raise for new teachers, a 1.8% raise for effective teachers, and a 3% raise for highly effective teachers. 

Kenneth Mouton, Collier County Education Association President, said this is not enough for many teachers who are living paycheck to paycheck. 

"If these people are not willing to be doing what they should be doing, which is paying these teachers a livable wage.. If they don't want to do that, then they need to step down," said Mouton.  

WINK News followed up with Collier County Schools asking them to clarify what the quorum is for these meetings and whether one person warrants postponing. The email sent alerting to the postponement of the meeting said it is important for every board member to be present to have the opportunity to deliberate.

The special hearing has been rescheduled for Friday, May 1st, at 4:30 p.m.