Florida teachers unions have spent years attacking Ron DeSantis over educator pay.
The outgoing governor just proposed his biggest teacher salary increase yet.
And the teachers union just got caught lying about DeSantis' record teacher pay increases.
DeSantis proposes historic $1.56 billion for teacher salaries in final budget
DeSantis rolled out his $117 billion "Floridians First" budget in Orlando, delivering on his promise to prioritize classroom teachers.
The term-limited Republican made teacher compensation the centerpiece of his final spending proposal.
"We're not going to take our foot off the gas pedal one bit," DeSantis declared.¹
His budget sets aside $1.56 billion specifically for boosting teacher and instructional staff salaries — an increase of $200 million over last year and the largest investment in Florida history.
DeSantis raised per-pupil spending to $9,406, an increase of $279 per student.
Since taking office in 2019, DeSantis has invested more than $4 billion in teacher salary increases while the teachers union fought him every step of the way.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998886920856678661?s=20
He's raised starting teacher pay by nearly $10,000 during his tenure, bringing the average starting salary to over $48,000.
That starting salary now ranks 16th in the nation — proof DeSantis delivers results despite union obstruction.
Teachers union caught distorting Florida's teacher pay rankings
The Florida Education Association immediately attacked DeSantis's historic investment with misleading statistics.
The union loves to cite Florida's 50th place ranking in "average" teacher pay at $54,875.²
What the union conveniently ignores is why that average is lower — and it's the union's own fault.
Florida ranks 16th in starting teacher pay because DeSantis fought to get new teachers competitive salaries.
But veteran teachers earn less than they should because union-negotiated contracts lock them into rigid salary schedules that prevent merit-based raises.
"If you keep having veteran teachers leave in droves, then you're continually having to train new people to fill those spots," complained 21-year teaching veteran Renee Hawk.³
She's right about the problem — but wrong about who caused it.
The union negotiated those terrible contracts that compress wages and prevent experienced teachers from earning what they deserve based on performance.
Union leadership lives large while teachers struggle
The teachers union claims educators face a "financial crisis" after "eight years of broken promises."⁴
Let's talk about broken promises.
Union bosses like FEA President Andrew Spar collect six-figure salaries funded by teacher dues while complaining about educator pay.
The National Education Association, the FEA's parent organization, paid its president over $500,000 in recent years.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998822637720539631?s=20
These union executives live in luxury while rank-and-file teachers struggle — then blame DeSantis for problems union contracts created.
"While the governor continues to tout 'record' investments in educator pay, the lived experiences of educators tell a different story," the union claimed.⁵
That's rich coming from an organization that negotiates rigid salary schedules preventing merit pay and performance bonuses.
Union contract failures hurt veteran teachers
Here's the dirty secret teachers unions don't want Floridians to know.
DeSantis allocated billions for teacher salary increases, but union-negotiated contracts determine how districts spend that money.
Those contracts prioritize union power over teacher compensation.
The wage compression problem Renee Hawk described — where 21-year veterans earn barely more than rookies — stems directly from union salary schedules.
DeSantis wanted merit-based pay that rewards excellent veteran teachers.
The union fought that tooth and nail because it would reduce union control.
Instead, unions demanded across-the-board raises that benefit underperforming teachers as much as excellent ones.
That's why starting salaries jumped while experienced teacher pay stagnated.
The union created this mess, then blamed DeSantis for it.
Democrats and unions team up to attack property tax relief
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell joined the union's attacks on DeSantis's property tax relief plan.
DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes for homesteaded properties and backfill small counties with $300 million in state funding.
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998837985018605653?s=20
Driskell called it a "shell game" that would create a "welfare state" for rural counties.⁶
"That's not fair to the local elected officials who are trying to serve their communities," Driskell complained. "And frankly, I think that we should leave property taxes alone and focus on the actual issues of affordability that people care about."
Property taxes crushing Florida homeowners isn't an affordability issue?
Democrats and teachers unions are aligned against taxpayers because they want to keep property tax money flowing to government bureaucracies.
Even some Republicans criticized DeSantis for not releasing detailed plans faster.
"It's been 300 days since the governor said he wanted to deal with property taxes. We're still waiting on his proposal," State Representative Toby Overdorf said.⁷
DeSantis has been working to build consensus for bold reform while House Republicans push watered-down alternatives that would barely help homeowners.
Union diverts billions to private school vouchers while blocking reform
The FEA claims DeSantis's $4.4 billion voucher program "diverts billions of taxpayer dollars into the hands of unelected private interests while leaving public schools and their students behind."
Translation: The union is terrified of school choice giving parents alternatives to failing union-controlled schools.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998795306448887893?s=20
Florida's voucher program gives families freedom to choose the best education for their children.
Teachers unions hate that because it reduces their monopoly power and enrollment in schools they control.
The Florida Legislature begins its 60-day session on January 13 to craft the actual budget.
DeSantis delivered record investments in teachers despite years of union opposition and obstruction.
Teachers unions lied about his record, negotiated terrible contracts hurting veteran educators, and opposed every reform that would have helped classroom teachers.
¹ Gray Rohrer, "DeSantis seeks $117B Florida budget with boost for teacher pay," USA Today Network – Florida, December 10, 2025.
² Florida Education Association, "Florida Teacher Pay Remains Stagnant as State Holds at 50th in National Rankings," December 2025.
³ Kate Bradshaw, "The truth behind teacher pay in Florida," CBS12, February 18, 2025.
⁴ Kate Payne, "DeSantis rolls out proposed $117B state budget; Florida Education Association slams numbers," WGCU, December 10, 2025.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Zac Anderson, "Backfill or backfire? DeSantis' plan to replace local tax dollars draws debate," Local 10, December 10, 2025.
⁷ Ibid.
