Newly appointed superintendent Misty Her and all Fresno Unified administrative staff are receiving the same 5% pay increase negotiated by teachers. This comes amidst an almost $49 million budget deficit.

The raises coincide with contractually agreed upon pay increases for Fresno Unified teachers outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between the district and Fresno Teachers Association.

This includes an 5% ongoing raise and a 3% one-time payment.

Her’s pay bump comes two months into her superintendent tenure.

“For the 2025–26 school year only, Superintendent Her will receive the same salary increase and one-time payment as all district staff,” said district spokesperson Diana Diaz.

But the agreement does not automatically apply to administrative staff.

“When FTA bargains a raise for educators, we’re effectively bargaining a raise for most of the district because Fresno Unified chooses to extend those increases to management,” said FTA President Manuel Bonilla. “They aren’t required to. They simply choose to.”

The district is only obligated to match raises for contracted administrative staff possessing a parity clause.

For example, Her’s contract reads, “The superintendent’s annual salary… shall be increased or decreased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase or decrease applied to the salary schedule for management employees generally.”

Fresno Unified only commented on Misty Her’s contract. Additionally, the district declined to comment on who made the choice to grant the raise to all employees.

Fresno Unified Gives Raises Amidst Budget Deficit

The raise, applied to all teachers and administration, will cost the district $39.5 million alongside $19.8 million in one-time payments for the 2025-26 school year, according to the approved budget.

Fresno Unified, struggling with declining student enrollment and chronic absenteeism, is facing significant budget challenges. As a result, the district has made big cuts, including eliminating the designated schools program. The decision created a huge uproar from parents and teachers who said the program was essential.

However, district officials said the program wasn’t raising student achievement enough to justify a continuing investment.

Related Story: Fresno Unified Faces Teacher Uproar Over Slashing Designated Schools

Additionally, concerns over Fresno Unified’s large central administration have risen.

“We believe school site administrators — those working directly with students, teachers, and families — should be among the highest-paid administrators in the system,” Bonilla said. “There’s no justification for automatically giving central office leadership the same raises.”

Related Story: Fresno Unified Has Twice as Many Administrators, Lower Test Scores Than Its ...

Community Outcry Over Superintendent Salary

Recently, Her’s three-year superintendent contract drew pushback from some in the community who disapproved of the $385,500 starting salary.

“It’s very frustrating to hear that there’s going to be a gigantic increase when I know that our teachers, our paraeducators, our bus drivers and custodians, when we ask for a small increase there’s a ‘No, no there’s not money,’” community member Brenda Quispe told the board at the April 30 meeting.

Now, another pay increase is coming. On Tuesday, Her will receive a one-time payment of $11,565 and a salary increase of $19,275.

Fresno Unified sparked further public outrage on a now deleted social media post that defended Her’s salary by comparing it to FTA Executive Director Louis Jamerson’s pay.

Related Story: Fresno Unified’s New Supe Makes 500% More Than a New Teacher

FTA declined to comment on Her’s salary increase.

In mid-2026, Her will be eligible for a 3% to 7% raise, as determined by the School Board. The pay increase is contingent upon a positive evaluation.