Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake says more education funding should go to teachers

PHOENIX — Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake wants more money to go into the pockets of teachers.

“I don’t think we pay our teachers enough,” Lake told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

Lake, whose father was a public school teacher, believes higher salaries will result in better retention.

The average salary for Arizona teachers in 2020-21 compared to other occupations in the state ranked 50th nationally, according to a study released earlier this month from Business.org.

Arizona educators made an average of $52,157 while other occupations made $55,170. Only Washington, D.C., was worse.

“I think the money that we intend to pay our teachers ends up almost every time going into the administration staff and into their salaries,” Lake said.

The former TV news anchor is intrigued by a fellow GOP hopeful’s plan to raise teacher salaries by $10,000.

Matt Gress, Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget director who is running for the state House in District 4, introduced his plan on Aug. 22.

The plan calls for immediate and permanent five-figure raises, including for new teachers. Funding would come from the state budget.

“I like the idea of it, making sure that the money is going to the teachers and not to a bunch of bloated administrative staff salaries,” Lake said.

“I’d like to find out a little bit more about how they plan to do that.”

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