Ever wonder why teachers keep showing up every day, even when it feels like everything’s stacked against them? You’ve heard the stories about teachers buying their own supplies, juggling side gigs, and getting way less respect than they deserve. Take South Dakota, for example: our teachers are ranked #46 in the nation for pay, and when it comes to respect, the numbers are perhaps worse. In fact, the recent State budget proposal and some legislators wanting even more cuts, indicate that we will be headed toward #50. Again. So why do they keep at it? It’s not about the paychecks—that’s for sure. It’s about making a difference.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: money is tight. In South Dakota, teachers are some of the lowest paid in America, and nobody’s handing out discounts for groceries or rent. Some of them hustle at second jobs, stretch their resources to the limit, and still find ways to fill their classrooms with supplies, snacks, and a whole lot of hope. Still, year after year, they’re back in those classrooms. Why? Because what they give can’t be counted in dollars—it’s about the lasting impact they leave on kids’ lives.
Teachers are holding the future, one restless third grader or overwhelmed high schooler at a time. They’re not just handing out homework—they’re the ones offering encouragement when a student is about to give up, or turning a classroom into a safe haven when home doesn’t feel all that safe. The wins that matter most aren’t standardized test scores; they’re the moments when a kid discovers they believe in themselves, finds their voice, or simply feels valued.
With shrinking budgets, crowded rooms or cobbled up spaces, and a culture that often shrugs at their work, you might think teachers would bail. But they stay. They stay because they see possibility where others see problems. They teach for the spark in a child’s eyes, for their communities, and for the country they know can be better. In a world that’s a little lost, teachers are the ones quietly pointing the way.
So, why do teachers stick with it for so long? Because real change takes time. Every day in the classroom is its own kind of quiet revolution—a promise to America’s youth that someone will show up, guide them, and never give up, no matter how rocky the road gets. In the end, it’s not politicians or CEOs shaping our future—it’s those teachers who ignore the hurdles and show up every day, changing lives one lesson at a time.
The Other 98 Cents 