On August 26, the same day that students across the city started a new school year, the Peabody School Committee approved a new contract with the Peabody Federation of Teachers, which represents over 500 teachers in the Peabody Public Schools.
The contract will cover four years, beginning on September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2029. Over the course of the contract, educators will see increases to their salaries that take into account the true cost of living and other fiscal realities residents across the region face. For the 2025-2026 school year, educators will see an 8 to 12 percent salary increase, with a three percent annual increase over the remaining three years of the contract.
“This is a fair contract for the teachers of Peabody, one that is competitive to ensure we’re able to retain and recruit the educators our students deserve,” said PFT President Mike Hawes. “Throughout this process, we maintained a positive and open working relationship with the administration, which allowed us to deliver a stronger, more inclusive contract than we’ve seen before.”
Starting this year, teachers will also be provided with four weeks of paid parental leave, providing them with the opportunity most other employees across the state have to take time with their family following a child’s birth or adoption. It also provides teachers with a third personal day beginning in their sixteenth year of service to the district.
This contract takes important steps to support teachers of all levels, including those working the district’s youngest learners and those educating students in Peabody’s career and technical education (CTE) programs. In addition to cleaning up and strengthening language throughout the contract, it ensures that pre-kindergarten teachers in Peabody Public Schools are covered and included throughout the agreement.
To support professional development, the contract increases the tuition reimbursement fund from $50,000 to $60,000 annually and expands the program to cover reimbursements for costs incurred by CTE teachers for necessary certifications and licences specific to their work.
“Peabody benefits when our schools are more equitable and inclusive, for both our students and our educators,” continued Hawes. “Creating stronger, more supportive workplaces for our educators results in stronger classrooms that take into account the specific needs of our students. This contract is a win for teachers, for students, and for the entire community.”