By Amy Cockerham

Public Ed Works

WINSTON-SALEM (June 26, 2025) – North Carolina drivers may spot billboards advocating for better teacher pay out on the roads this summer as part of Public Ed Works’ latest campaign.

About a dozen billboards are located along Interstate 40 and Interstate 85, concentrated in highly traveled areas like Raleigh or Charlotte.

“This year we really tried to strategically locate them,” said Paul Fulton, Founder and Chair of Public Ed Works. “Right around Raleigh, so they’d be seen by the right people.”

This spring, the National Education Association released its annual report showing that average teacher pay in North Carolina fell five spots, from 38th to 43rd in the nation.

“I mean, it is criminal,” Fulton said. “
It’s embarrassing what we pay teachers in this state. It’s not like we don’t have the means to do it. That’s the important thing.”

However, the NC House budget that advanced in May showed progress. Public school teachers could see an average raise of 8.7% over the next two years if passed.

 About a half-dozen of the billboards read “Support the House budget. PayNCTeachers.com.”

“We know economically the state is booming. You see all these aircraft construction companies that are coming into the Triad,” Fulton said. “
We know Charlotte’s booming, we know Raleigh is, and all of the state is. So why is it that we’re at the bottom on teacher pay?”

Fulton said the billboard campaign provides a way to reach a broader audience.

“
I don’t know what percentage, but a lot of people don’t go online,” Fulton said. “They’re probably a lot like me, so you’ve got to have a way of reaching them also.”

Public Ed Works first staged a billboard campaign last year. Fulton hopes it continues to spark discussion among voters and lawmakers.

“Conversation with your friends and neighbors,” Fulton said. “(We’re) hoping it’ll eventually get to your legislators to impact them.”

Visit https://payncteachers.com/ for the latest facts and figures on the state of public education in North Carolina and how you can make a difference.