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Oklahoma teacher breaks down finances and shares her experience


Teacher shares her monthly money issues; hopes legislators make a plan
Teacher shares her monthly money issues; hopes legislators make a plan
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TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) -- Oklahoma is ten days away from a teacher walkout and no plans have been made by lawmakers. Some say the demands are too high; however, a teacher pay raise plan that's lower than $10,000 could cause more problems for teachers. Oklahoma teacher and mother, Heather Cody, says a smaller raise would hurt more than it would help.

The Oklahoma Education Association is proposing their own plan. They say there should be an increase in gross production, tobacco and gas taxes, among others and income tax reform, and this plan would give teachers the $10,000 raise they are looking for.

As a mom, Heather Cody is on the clock 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is not always fun, and compensation for her day job is nothing to write home about.

"I bring home $1,900 a month," Cody said.

That's expected to cover Cody and her three-year-old daughter Alayah, but it doesn't.

"I owned a home and sold it," Cody said. "I couldn't afford to keep it up, not just mortgage but everything that comes with being a homeowner." Now, she lives with her parents.

"There is no way I could afford to live anywhere else," Cody said. She listed some of the bills she pays on a monthly basis.

"My total for April is $1,068," Cody said, leaving her with about $832.

Not included in her list of bills are rent, gas, emergency funds, money for savings and the list goes on.

"It is the most frustrating thing to wonder if I can get gas," Cody said.

When asked if a small raise would help, she broke down what a thousand dollars would really do. It would take her daughter off of Sooner Care and force her loans out of deferment, adding $400 to her monthly bills.

"So, that $1,000 raise technically costs me $3,800 a year," Cody said.

Cody wants the state to look at the big picture.

"I didn't go into teaching for the money," Cody said, but she says she and her co-workers deserve so much more.

"I just want to feel respected from the state that I work for, the state that I love, the state that I root for in every situation that we have, and they don't root for me," Cody said.

Cody is hoping lawmakers will make a decision before the April 1 deadline.

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