Teacher's Bill Of Rights

 

1. The Right to Professional Respect

     Teachers have the right to be treated as the skilled professionals they are, not as disposable
labor.
We keep saying teachers need a “seat at the table.” I say teachers are the table. If a policy
doesn’t work for a teacher in a classroom at 2:00 PM, it is a bad policy. Period.
The people who actually do the hard work should have a real say in the policies that govern
them.

2. The Right to Safe, Supportive Classrooms

     I’ve been in a school when the worst happened. I know that safety isn’t just about locked doors.
It’s about a teacher knowing the administration has their back when a classroom gets out of
control. You should not feel like you are on an island in your classroom. You should have the full support
of the school board and administration when you make a decision rooted in policy.
That means:
Clear, consistently enforced disciplinary policies
An administration that backs teachers when they follow those policies
Access to mental health and student support services that actually solve problems before they
escalate

3. The Right to Have Their Time Respected

     Every minute you spend in a pointless meeting or filling out a redundant form is a minute you
aren’t teaching. Your time is literally our most valuable resource.
Educators have the right to:
Protected planning periods
Fewer unnecessary meetings and paperwork demands
Expectations that reflect the reality of the workday
When teachers are buried in busywork, students pay the price.

4. The Right to Fair and Competitive Compensation

     Don’t tell me you respect teachers and then show me a budget that says otherwise.
We are losing great educators to Chapel Hill and to other careers entirely because we are not
competitive. As professionals, teachers have the right to be compensated fairly for the important
work they do.
As a school board member, I will audit our school system’s operating budget line by line to find
the money for teacher supplements. Respect is a line item.

Teacher retention is directly tied to student retention and successful learning outcomes. Your
time and expertise are worth the additional pay.

5. The Right to Be Treated Like Human Beings

     You are not a machine. You have bad days. You have families. You have limits.
Educators have the right to:
Reasonable workloads
Access to mental health support
A culture that values sustainability over burnout
A system that relies on exhaustion is not strong. It is fragile.

6. The Right to Stability in a Changing District
     As enrollment shifts, teachers deserve honesty and foresight, not uncertainty.
That means:
Planning proactively for enrollment changes
Using savings from underutilized facilities responsibly
Prioritizing teacher retention as a cost-saving strategy, not an afterthought
Student retention and teacher retention are inseparable. When families see stable schools with
supported educators, they stay.

This Teachers’ Bill of Rights is not a slogan. It is a governing framework.