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Teacher urges pay increase for high‑need Oak Grove Academy instructional assistants
Summary
Sean Lee, an Oak Grove Academy teacher, urged the board to adopt differentiated pay for instructional assistants who work with the district’s highest-need students, citing repeated injuries, high emotional and physical strain, and retention risks for experienced staff.
Forest Grove, Ore. — During public comment at the Nov. 12 board meeting, Oak Grove Academy teacher Sean Lee urged trustees to create differentiated pay or another payroll mechanism to reward instructional assistants who work in the district’s highest-need programs.
Lee described Oak Grove as serving "the most challenging students in the entire public school system" and said the program brings revenue to the district because other districts contract with Oak Grove to educate students they cannot serve themselves. He recounted seeing staff suffer "concussions, broken bones, deep bites" and said long-term retention depends on compensation that reflects the training and risk. "My best staff members who have been with me for over a decade at Oak Grove net about $1,800 a month," he said, adding that the district risks losing experienced staff if pay is not addressed.
Board members did not take immediate action at the meeting; the item was raised as public comment and will require follow-up by staff and the board to consider any policy or budgetary response.
Why it matters: Oak Grove provides specialized services to students with high needs, and Mr. Lee argued that losing experienced instructional assistants would jeopardize program quality and the district’s ability to serve contracted students.
