Missouri teacher ‘panhandles’ her way through summer break, leaves her commentators questioning why ‘teachers are so underpaid’

Teacher pay and summer income gaps remain a recurring issue in U.S. education, including in Missouri, where educators often rely on budgeting strategies or supplemental work during school breaks.

One Missouri teacher has now drawn national attention after documenting a viral social media experiment she described as “panhandling” during her summer break. The videos appeared on TikTok from Missouri teacher Ashley (@ashleymewing).

Ashley made $103 her first day

In her first video, Ashley framed the experience as a “Get ready with me to panhandle as a teacher on her first day of summer break.” She added, “I felt like that was very appropriate for my very first day of panhandling.” She also showed her setup, saying, “And, of course, you can’t panhandle without a sign. Day one, panhandling as a teacher on summer break. Got my Stanley and my backpack, and I’m ready to go.”

Ashley said she spent about an hour and a half at a street corner where she engaged with passersby. “My only goal here was to make people happy by seeing my sign,” she said. She described receiving waves, honks, smiles, and laughter from drivers and pedestrians.

By the end of her first day, Ashley said she made $103. She said, “Which is way more than I would have ever expected. I hope you’ll follow and join me for day two and my summer of panhandling. Happy summer!”

Teacher “pandhandling” day 2

In a follow-up video, Ashley returned to the same concept on Memorial Day. She described the day as unusual compared to typical holiday plans, saying others were “out doing normal holiday activities” while she chose to return to her roadside sign.

Before starting, she stopped for food and said, “Because if I’m gonna stand outside in the summer heat, I at least deserve fruit and granola first.” She also described an unexpected interaction with viewers who recognized her from TikTok, calling it “so fun” and saying the supporters were “incredibly kind.”

Ashley also thanked her audience for positive messages, saying she felt “overwhelmingly grateful” for community support. After about an hour in the heat, she reported earning $51 on day two. She ended the video with, “Don’t forget to smile today. Bye!”

Reading between the lines, Ashley’s viral videos added a personal perspective to one ongoing debate, with many commenters echoing the same sentiment: “teachers are so underpaid.”

While Ashley never mentions her own income, teacher salaries vary widely by state and district, and federal data shows that a portion of educators take on additional paid work outside the classroom during the school year or summer, reflecting income challenges in the profession. Advocacy groups such as the National Education Association have long argued that teacher compensation does not always align with workload, credentials, or out-of-pocket classroom expenses.