Fully Alive! campaign seeks lasting boost for Catholic schoolteacher pay

Here in the Diocese of Wichita, we have always put students first and invested in their futures – and ours – through a stewardship model that allows them to receive a high-quality, faith-based education from our Catholic schools. In addition to our continued investments in students, we must also prioritize teachers. After all, the education our children receive is only as good as the teachers who deliver it. 

Janet Eaton, superintendent of the diocese’s schools, says teachers are the linchpin of our Catholic school system. “We can’t do this without teachers who are in love with their faith and who have the catechetical background to be able to effectively teach,” she said. 

For 40 years our diocese has made Catholic education accessible to a diverse student body. As we strive to continue providing a high standard of excellence in every diocesan school, we’re also working to compensate our teachers at an equitable level comparable to their peers. “Right now, on average, our teachers are making 70%-80% of a public-school scale,” which presents a tough gap to bridge, Eaton said.  

The Catholic School Teacher Salary Enhancement Endowments, established through the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, are aimed at helping bridge that gap. This important campaign priority, with a goal of $15 million, will establish new endowments at all 38 Catholic schools in the diocese. These endowments will provide ongoing, long-term financial support for teacher salaries, ensuring that Catholic educators receive just and equitable wages. 

Because endowments are structured for long-term sustainability, the effects of this campaign priority will benefit teachers for generations to come. Eaton predicts that 20 years from now, people will look back at this moment and recognize its significance. 

“There are few opportunities in any one of our lives where you get to be on the ground floor of something that will be talked about for many, many years to come. And that’s what I feel like this campaign is,” she said.

Thanks to a strong response during campaign’s first and second waves, the first endowment deposits benefiting teachers were made last month. As campaign pledge payments are received in the months and years ahead, additional funds will continue to be directed to these endowments. 

Terry Bolinger, a middle school religion teacher at Magdalen, understands the sacrifices that come with choosing to teach in a Catholic school. A graduate of Magdalen and Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Bolinger knew she wanted to give back to the very system that shaped her faith and education. But as fulfilling as the work is, the financial strain is real. 

“My husband is also a Catholic school teacher in the diocese,” Bolinger said. 

She said they make a very livable income but acknowledges the financial challenges many teachers face. Bolinger says she looks forward to the far-reaching impact these endowments will have on both current and future teachers. 

“These added funding sources could potentially help secure someone’s future, provide a little bit more financial security, and allow them to not only become but to continue on as a Catholic school teacher,” she said. 

 For many young Catholic educators, salary concerns are a deciding factor in whether they can afford to teach in the schools they love. “A lot of younger adult Catholics opt out of teaching in our schools because they don’t think they can support themselves on a Catholic teacher salary,” Bolinger said. “I hope this particular element of the campaign, coupled with other existing diocesan initiatives that help fund our schools, will help change that narrative.” 

Investing in teachers is about more than only salaries – it’s also about ensuring the long-term vitality of Catholic education for our diocese. With more equitable compensation, teachers will be able to focus on their vocation rather than added financial stress. And in turn, children and families will benefit from educators who are more present, more energized and more committed to their students’ formation. 

Teachers also feel more seen and appreciated, Bolinger said, adding that many feel a “happy shock” that they’re a priority in this campaign.  “We’re accustomed to seeing financial investments in our students, which is wonderful and beautiful, but I think the Fully Alive! Campaign has really boosted a lot of people’s morale for our schools, knowing that the entire diocese is making teachers a valued priority.” 

Information about the Fully Alive! Campaign’s Catholic School Teacher Salary Enhancement priority can be found at OneFamilyFullyAlive.org.