The Springfield School District salary schedule shows a teacher with 15 years' experience and a master's degree would make $64.346, and a 4J teacher would make $64,916.
In 1992, my daughter's kindergarten teacher said she and her husband, also a 4J teacher, had just passed six figures in combined salary after 19 years on the job. When they retired together after 30 years of teaching -- she in her early 50s, he in his mid 50s -- they made $130,000 together. Their combined PERS benefit is just shy of $144,000 -- 14 years later and counting.
Something isn't kosher with your friend or that retired co-worker.