Throughout California and around the country, students are arriving at school this month with cards, candy and coffee mugs—tokens of thanks in recognition of Teacher and School Employee Appreciation weeks.
Our school employees deserve every bit of this gratitude, and I know they appreciate it. But gratitude without action falls short. Two scheduled weeks in May aren’t enough to encompass all that school employees do for our children and communities—or the very real challenges they face outside the classroom.
School employees across California are helping to teach and build a stronger future for all of us, but they’re also facing a perfect storm of financial strain, housing instability and wildfire recovery. It’s time we prioritize their financial well-being.
As the leader of a credit union committed to serving the educational community for more than 90 years, we’ve witnessed firsthand the escalating financial struggles of those who dedicate their lives to shaping our future.
School employees are facing unprecedented challenges: Costs of essential daily needs like food and housing continue to rise, and that squeeze on purchasing power is compounded by the state’s ongoing housing crisis. The aftermath of this year’s wildfires magnifies those challenges even further.
School employee salaries range widely across California, barely keeping up with average cost of housing in many communities, and too often leaving homeownership a distant dream. The consequences of this affordability crisis are felt at every level and to every degree. With so much of their income tied up in housing, many school employees struggle to cover the basics, let alone save for the future. In this economy, more school employees are living paycheck to paycheck, searching for advice and solutions to help them thrive.
For schools and communities, these realities make it difficult to recruit, hire and retain staff who live in the communities they serve.
These challenges to affordability have been part of California’s educational community landscape for a long time. But this year’s wildfires and other weather-related emergencies have compounded an already fragile situation, destroying thousands of existing housing units, causing property damage upwards of $53 billion, and directly impacting some 20,000 of our school employee members.
And beyond the financial devastation is the emotional toll—school employees supporting students through trauma while navigating their own.
In the face of these interlocking hardships, a simple “thank you” feels insufficient.
The organization I have the honor to lead, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, is uniquely positioned to help. Alongside our appreciation activities during Teacher and School Employee Appreciation weeks, we provide ongoing financial literacy programs and competitive personal finance options uniquely tailored to school employees’ needs.
During crises like the recent wildfires, we offer goodwill funds and emergency relief to our affected members. As a member-owned and not-for-profit financial cooperative, we reinvest earnings into tailored services and better rates, directly benefiting school employees and their families.
But no single program, institution, or effort can address the structural challenges impacting our educational communities. It demands a shared commitment—from all of us—to prioritize the economic stability and quality of life for those who power our schools and help our communities thrive.
School employees are the heart of our education system. Recognizing their dedication is essential, but in these extraordinary times, recognition must be matched with action. As you show your gratitude this month, pair it with something tangible. There are civic institutions, community organizations and service providers across California offering aid and advice to ensure financial well-being. Support them—for our communities, our students and a brighter future for all of us.
