It wasn't long ago that I walked away from my position of leadership in my teachers' union. It was summer of 2014. I packed my car and drove away from a national convention in Denver, leaving my union behind, just like that.
Well, it wasn't just like that. It was, in fact, a long time coming. As a teacher, I became involved in fighting for better schools around 2008. That fight eventually connected me to my local teacher's union. We had the federal government cramming testing and Common Core down our local school board's throats. Teachers and parents joined together online and on the street to fight for our children. It was grassroots and it worked.
It certainly caught the attention of those high up in both of my teacher unions/associations. This was especially true when many teachers began to question not just the leadership in the White House, but our own teacher union presidents. I was at the head of those loud voices and I was quickly and effectively silenced. I look back now and clearly see all the players in the game and can piece together many of the things that occurred leading up to my resignation from my union. I made it easy on them - once it was clear they wanted me quiet or gone, I left. I hopped in my rental and drove away from my position of leadership. I left the national convention and headed south over mountains and across a desert. I've never looked back.
Of course, I've never stopped watching the actions of my union leadership, all the way to the top. Years passed and I am still a flea at times, mostly on Twitter. I still have a bit of a voice. Mostly though, I was happy to walk away from my union. I lost many friends and suffered much, but I am happy I did. In a way, it is like a long overdue divorce. Sucks at first, but a much needed blessing in the end.
I attribute my ability to survive the severing from my union on the Lord Jesus. My faith was my fortress through it all. I knew from the first day that I entered my local union and introduced myself that something was missing. They had a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr on the wall, though, and I admired him, so I stayed. Yes, I did. I stayed and fought with my union for years, all the while with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on that wall.
"“Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Then, one day, when it hit me what was missing.
My teacher union was missing the key ingredient that Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for: Jesus. They were missing Jesus. All this planning and protesting without Jesus felt like nothing more to me than corruption and collusion. I suddenly remembered the words of an old southern minister who preached:
"If you ain't fought the devil lately, you better watch out. You may just be fighting on his side."
I decided it was time to call it quits with my union. Colorado was a long way from home to decide something like that, but it didn't stop me. I prayed the Lord's Prayer as I drove out of the Rockies.I prayed His Prayer as I passed canyons in Texas. I was still praying it as I drove home over the Mississippi River and headed home. I'm still praying today.
"People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions. Martin Luther
My faith in our Comforter is my strength amidst much struggle. I am still fighting for the kids, but I am not with fighting with my union any longer. I applaud those who stay in our teacher associations and fight for better leadership. You have my support. We need better.
It is also my opinion that we need a union that recognizes and respects the teachings of Jesus. No teacher should have to choose between their faith and their union. Ever.
We also need a union that stands with members, not with her ...
We need to be able to say loud and clear...
I am with Him. Jesus Matters.
