Charlotte Teachers Preparing for Rally Next Week in Raleigh

CHARLOTTE, NC – In one week, thousands of teachers will rally in Raleigh for pay raises, student safety, and building improvements. We’ve learned there’s a waiting list for teachers who want to take buses from Charlotte.

Wednesday, around 400 teachers will board buses at Mallard Creek High School.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators has arranged six buses for the trip.

“What they’ve done is they’ve made educators angry,” explains West Charlotte High School teacher Erlene Lyde.

Lyde says she’s overwhelmed by the number of teachers signing up to go to Raleigh.

“It’s growing and growing and growing,” she says.

The “March for Students and Rally for Respect” is timed to match the first day lawmakers return for the legislative session.

At least 13 school systems across the state, including CMS, will close May 16th.

Lyde says teachers have reached a boiling point.

“Our colleagues are leaving because they need to go to another job to take care of their families or they’re going to another state. That’s impacting all of us,” she says.

At the Teacher of the Year ceremony Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox got a round of applause after thanking teachers for going.

“Please deliver a positive message for change,” Wilcox told them.

This year’s CMS Teacher of the Year, April Johnson, says she’s considering going to Raleigh.

The 2nd year art teacher at Tuckaseegee Elementary is worried about funding for the arts.

“We need to sound the battle cry. We need our children to say, ‘We need you,’ ‘We need you,'” she says.

School Board Chair Mary McCray hopes lawmakers pay attention.

“Teachers are not there to be violent. They’re not there to be vile. They are there just to talk about those things that matter to them,” McCray says.