Alexandra Fleming teaches sixth-grade English, language arts and U.S. history teacher at Hamstead Hill Academy in Fells Point. She recently began her fifth year on the job, a point at which nearly half of teachers throughout the country switch to another profession.
She spoke with The Examiner about why she decided to teach in Baltimore City, what it’s like to live on a teacher’s starting salary, and how much financial incentives could help districts recruit and retain more teachers in Maryland.
Some young teachers need to get a second job to work during the summer or even during the school year. How difficult is it to make ends meet?
I’ve been a teacher for five years and I’ve always had to work during the summer. I do save during the school year for the summer, but I’ve never had enough for the summer.
How successful would financial incentives, such as income tax breaks, be in recruiting and retaining more teachers in Maryland? Have you been offered any?
We started at step four [the salary level for a fourth-year teacher], which was great. That was one of the reasons I came to the city. It was more than the county; the county was less.
Why should teachers get these incentives and not other people who also have jobs that don’t pay a lot?
Try doing my job for a week. We’re doing a pretty good public service.
