LAKE HAVASU CITY – Teacher pay has seen a boost in Lake Havasu City in recent years, but administrative pay hasn’t been adjusted to keep pace.
Some experienced teachers can remain in the classroom and earn more than they would in different leadership roles in the Lake Havasu Unified School District (LHUSD). That will change with the 2026-’27 school year.
At a meeting last month, the LHUSD Governing Board unanimously approved a plan to increase pay for administrative employees, spending $43,000 more than the previous budget year to do so.
The base pay increases for principals, assistant principals and dean of students is vital to encourage a “grow your own” philosophy of leaders made up of people who are already with the district, board members said.
“Teachers with 10 or more years of experience often do not apply for these positions because it would be a pay cut,” said Erin Horvath, director of Human Resources with the district. “We don’t want this to continue.”
Board member Lisa Roman followed up on that sentiment.
“We have a lot of experienced teachers that stay in the classrooms for multiple decades, and if that’s really what they want to do then that’s wonderful,” Roman said. But the district doesn’t want teachers who would prefer a leadership role to remain in the classroom because the administrative post would require a pay cut, she added.
A lot of times the problem is administrative pay is too high, but that’s not the problem here, said board Chairman David Rose.
Specifically, from the current school year to the 2026-’27 school year, pay would increase $3,000 for assistant principals, elementary school principals and middle school principals. The high school principal position pay would increase by $4,000. Deans would get a $3,000 pay increase as well. Director salaries do not change with this plan.
In the current school year, pay for experienced teachers can surpass all administrative roles previously listed but high school principal and director positions.
For the 2026-27 school year, a high school principal can make a minimum of $95,250 and a maximum of $110,250.
Various factors are a part of teacher pay calculations including the base pay amount, a voter approved proposition to increase pay and stipends.
Greg Moberly
