Washougal teachers say pay falls short

National Teacher Appreciation Day fell on May 8 this year, the same day as a regularly scheduled Washougal School Board meeting, and dozens of Washougal teachers showed up with an idea for how district leaders could really show their appreciation — increasing teacher salaries to match compensation packages offered by surrounding school districts.

“Isn’t it ironic that today is Teacher Appreciation Day and Teacher Appreciation Week and we’re standing in a room of teachers filled with my colleagues and telling you we don’t feel appreciated in Washougal,” Columbia River Gorge Elementary kindergarten teacher Mandi Bradford told the board, adding that as a student teacher in Washougal six years ago, she fell in love with teaching and the district.