According to reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Education Minnesota, the state’s only teachers union and one of the largest unions in the state, pays their executives and employees far more than the average Minnesota teacher earns.
From September of 2022 through August of 2023, Education Minnesota’s president, executive director, chief financial officer, and secretary-treasurer all received over $200,000. This figure is a combination of each individual’s gross salary, allowances, official business and other disbursements.
Denise Specht, the president of Education Minnesota, received the largest salary: $207,480.
Feeding Themselves First:
Ninety-Nine, yes, 99, @EducationMN employees made over $100k for the 2023 reporting.
Top 4 big-bosses made over $200k/each.#mnleg pic.twitter.com/ChqbdvBZyv
— MN Up North Lake Guy (@MNUpNorthLakeG1) December 28, 2023
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor reports show that Education Minnesota paid six-figure salaries to 99 employees/officials who work for the union, 16 of whom received a salary of over $150,000. In total, Education Minnesota lists 225 employees/officers on their federal reports.
In contrast, the average Minnesota teacher with a bachelor’s degree makes $50,900 per year. The U.S. Census reports that the per capita income of Minnesota is $44,947 with the median household income being $84,313.
Education Minnesota did not respond in time for publication when asked for comment regarding the significant disparity between the salaries of Education Minnesota staff and Minnesota teachers.
With over 84,000 public school teachers on its union rolls, Education Minnesota describes itself as “the leading advocate for public education in Minnesota.” As such, the union represents public school teachers in collective bargaining negotiations and has paid lobbyists at Minnesota’s State Capitol who work on behalf of public school teachers.
Among their initiatives, Education Minnesota seeks to provide students with “racially just schools and educators who are culturally competent.” In 2023, the union supported the Increase Teachers of Color Act which sought to proportionally decrease the number of white teachers in Minnesota and eliminate Minnesota Teacher Licensing Examinations.
Furthermore, Education Minnesota provides “LGBTQ+ educator resources and support.” These include sponsoring a December “LGBTQ+ Educator Happy Hour,” and promoting a private Facebook group called the “Rainbow Educator Network.”
Education Minnesota routinely endorses left-wing Democrat candidates across Minnesota at nearly all levels of government.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
