Most educators use Saturday mornings to rest and recoup from their busy work week, run errands, or spend time with family and friends. However, this Saturday morning, a group of educators gathered to stand up for their schools, their students, and their professions against those trying to dismantle public education. They voted together. Every vote will have a direct impact on North Carolina public schools and families because public education is on the ballot this year.
The Lee County Association of Educators (LCAE) organized a #SchoolsVoteTogether event on Saturday, Oct. 19, to promote early and collaborative voting among educators. The morning began with educators, local candidates, community members, and NCAE staff gathered together with donuts and hot chocolate and prepared to march to a nearby early voting site.
"What, how, and who we vote for directly influences everything we do and our school building,” said President Kayla Wilbalda of the Lee County Association of Educators. “Every school board policy, supplement increase, and state legislature decision directly impacts our classrooms. So it's important for us to vote for who we know is actually going to make the best decisions for what's happening in our classrooms.”
They marched through downtown Sanford, starting at the depot and going to the voting precinct at the local armory, chanting about the importance of voting and education. When they arrived at the armory, the local educators stopped to vote before they continued to march and chant back to the depot.
LCAE members were joined by union colleagues from Cumberland County.
“We continue to talk about our pay and the size of the classes, but we can't change anything until we get help from the people in power,” said Ersertavia Ford-Godfrey, educator and Cumberland County Association of Educators member.
While LCAE did not endorse any local candidates, some still showed up to support educators and public schools, including Katie Eddings, a candidate for the Lee County Board of Education; Bob Joyce, a candidate for the Lee County Board of Commissioners; and Patrick Kelly, a candidate for the Lee County Board of Education.
"Without public education, all our children suffer, and it's important that we get out and vote as teachers to have our voices heard, “said Katie Eddings, a retired educator, United States Air Force veteran, and Lee County Board of Education candidate. “Without teachers, we wouldn't have lawyers and doctors and all the other professions we have, and so it's important as teachers that we let our country know that it's important to us. We can't stand idly by.”
There is still time to vote! Public education is on the ballot, and your vote will directly affect North Carolina families and public schools. For more information on early voting, go to https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-early-person. Schools Vote Together events are continuing in locals across the state each weekend until Election Day.
