Moonlighting and Morale: The Impact on Educators Who Moonlight and How Classroom Teaching Suffers

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of moonlighting between teachers who moonlight and those who do not. Data from the voluntary, online survey of teachers indicated that instruction was impacted when moonlighting occurred. Teachers, who are members of Texas Classroom Teachers Association, provided data about their salary and the (possible) impact moonlighting had on their teaching. Would teachers stay in the classroom and quit moonlighting for bigger salaries? Was instruction impacted by moonlighting? What types of jobs are available for those who moonlight? Data showed that if teachers received higher salaries, they would stop moonlighting. Teachers felt their instruction was directly affected by moonlighting at various jobs, both in-district and out-of-district.