Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey will receive a $32,500 raise this year, raising his annual income to at least $325,000.

That’s a shift from a draft contract that would have paid Mackey $380,000, but it still makes him among the highest-earning state K-12 education officials in the nation. The Alabama State Board of Education voted 7-1 on the deal, which will run through April 2029.

Board member Jackie Ziegler claimed officials had mishandled the process up until the final vote, and said she could not back their decision despite her longstanding support for Mackey.

“I am in no way against anything about Dr. Mackey and his leadership,” she said. “But I have to say that the revised contract – which was not provided until last night at seven o’clock – I think the process of how the procedures were laid out could have been done in a much better way, and if we could have done so earlier versus later, we could have offset many who are frustrated, upset, and wondering where we’re headed across our state.”

Mackey currently has a rolling three-year contract, meaning it is extended by a year each anniversary. His starting salary in 2018 was $245,000, with a 3% raise each year.

The new contract would raise his base salary by about 11%. The 3% annual raise would remain in place if he continues to make good marks on his evaluation.

He is also eligible for a $1,750 monthly housing allowance, a $5,000 annual stipend for professional development and reimbursements for other work expenses like a smartphone and laptop.

The state superintendent is responsible for making sure Alabama’s 154 public K-12 school districts meet state and federal regulations. They also help guide policy, monitor performance and determine state funding for local schools.

During his tenure, Mackey has launched several big initiatives, including the state’s literacy and numeracy laws, and has led the state to historic growth in national test scores. Mackey received a score of 4.51 out of 5 on his latest evaluation, a four-year high.

The new salary would still place Mackey behind one local superintendent, Chresal Threadgill of Mobile County, who makes $365,261. The average superintendent pay in the state is $174,944.

Alabama’s average teacher pay is $61,213, though certain districts typically pay much more or less.

Higher education leaders in the state make anywhere from $400,000 to $550,000, according to pay records.

New York’s Education Commissioner, Betty Rosa, appears the country’s current highest-earning K-12 leader after receiving a $155,000 raise in February. She now brings home nearly half a million dollars a year.

As of 2023, Georgia’s state superintendent made $155,000, while Mississippi’s made $300,000, according to the Council of State Governments.

“I want to see him raised up where our superintendents in the local level and our chancellors in the two-year schools and the four-year schools is more equitable, and I think Dr. Mackey has done a fabulous job,” Board Member Marie Manning said before the vote.

Board Member Wayne Reynolds was absent during the meeting, but said in a social media post that he was also skeptical of the initial amount. In a work session last month, he and two new members pushed for a delay to the vote, stating that he needed more time to review the details.

“The process caused some significant divisions in the Board but was resolved late yesterday after 7:00 PM with an email,” he wrote. “I received numerous communications and agree with the multitude who thought the $380,000 [salary] was not in the best interest of Alabama. The revised contract for $325,000 is more acceptable.”

“My issue is not with Dr. Mackey’s performance but with the procedure and process used,” he added. “My fiduciary responsibility demands a careful and prudent approach to any issue before me as an elected State Board of Education member and Constitutional Officer.”

Manning acknowledged a “rock in the road” with the process but praised Mackey for taking responsibility for the board’s concerns. She said he went to the governor’s office to personally request a reduction in the initial contract amount.

“As a school board member, I couldn’t be more proud,” she said to him. “I know that has to be why you did that.”

In a work session after the vote, Board Vice President Tonya Chestnut said she’d like the board to consider establishing written guidelines for future renewals.

Mackey agreed with the idea and said he is grateful for the opportunity to keep working on current projects.

“The process has been hard on everybody and all of us, but I do appreciate the opportunity to serve longer, and I enjoy working with all of you,” he said.