May 24, 2023 | District
We’re very excited to announce that beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, all BCPS teachers will receive an average increase of $10,000 to their salary at each job level, making us one of the highest-paying districts for new teachers in all of southwest Michigan!
At BCPS, we believe our passionate and talented teachers are the heart and soul of our district and core to our promise of providing a high-quality and equitable education to all students. Today, we are making a commitment to our passionate and talented educators so they can build careers at BCPS and roots in our community, and so that we can continue to attract talented new teachers to join the Bearcat Family.
In Michigan, the starting teacher salary on average is $38,963, compared to, on average, $42,844 nationally. With the new agreement in place, the starting pay for BCPS teachers will increase from $40,170 to $50,000 beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, positioning BCPS as one of the highest-paying districts for new teachers in all of southwest Michigan. The overall average BCEA teacher salary will increase from $56,800 to $68,300.
This has been a long-term priority since the start of our transformation process in 2017. We’ve been laser-focused over the past six years on improving the student experience, opening new schools, launching innovative programs, forging strong partnerships, and so much more. Our hope was that these changes would put every Bearcat on the path toward success, and encourage more families to enroll at BCPS — which would in turn, would provide the district with more funding to better compensate our amazing staff. Last year, BCPS saw its first increase in enrollment in more than a decade, paving the way for this investment in our teachers.
Our community is still buzzing from the announcement last week about the Bearcat Advantage, a new scholarship covering up to 100% in college tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Bearcat graduates. As we continue to celebrate this news, we wanted to make sure we take the time to pause and recognize the important role teachers play in putting each student on the path to success. Thank you, Bearcat Heroes, for all that you do — none of this would be possible without you!
JOIN THE BEARCAT FAMILY TODAY!
Battle Creek Public Schools will hold a career fair Tuesday, June 20, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. for individuals interested in learning more about the district and applying for roles as teachers, administrators, and other support positions. Additional details to come!
Increasing teacher pay is just the beginning of our work to make sure our district is not just a great place to work but a great place to stay and grow. We support our amazing educators with ongoing professional development, mentoring, and competitive benefits. In addition to having one of the highest starting salaries in our region, BCPS teachers are also eligible for other incentives including bonuses, paid professional development, and a partnership with the City of Battle Creek offering up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about career opportunities at BCPS, click here or fill out the interest form below to set up an informational phone call.