In a vibrant show of unity and purpose, educators and community members from Forsyth County boarded buses early Friday morning, setting their sights on Raleigh for the “Kids Over Corporations” protest. This gathering saw passionate voices advocating for enhanced funding in public education.
Among the attendees were three educators sharing a unique connection. Colleen Lanier, a retired Language Arts teacher from Walkertown Middle School, recognized a familiar face. “I was his seventh-grade teacher. Walkertown Middle School,” she said, referring to Matthew Poston, who sat by her side. “Still proud of him, so it’s great to see him here in this leadership role.” Poston, who now teaches at the same school, played a crucial role in organizing the protest. “Ms. Lanier instilled passion into me for reading,” Poston noted.
Seated nearby was Sofi Gerringer, a band teacher at Walkertown, and one of Poston’s former students. Gerringer expressed her inspiration to teach: “Seeing the chain continue — that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a teacher because … I wanted to share the inspiration that my teachers shared with me,” she said. “And it’s incredible. It just feels like a full circle.”
The rally drew thousands to Halifax Mall, all demanding greater legislative support for public education. Lee Childress, an Exceptional Children Teacher, voiced the urgency of the situation: “We don’t have a budget, and our people are struggling,” she said. “And a report came out yesterday that we’ll see the first decrease of any state in this country in pay and in resources because they have not passed the budget. So it’s time.”
Media Coordinator Dana Dehart from Southeast Middle School echoed similar concerns, saying, “I see the effects on every classroom and every student in the school from lack of funding for both the students and funding to have adequate staff.”
Higher education was also represented, with Jemma Johnson, a librarian from Wake Forest University, joining the cause. “And the fact that there isn’t enough being done for kids and teachers and supporting the most important part of what our tax dollars go to,” she remarked.
Forsyth County Association of Educators President Jenny Easter summed up the sentiment, “Our children come first, no matter what,” she stated. “And if we can’t afford to keep our public schools running the way they should, they need to do something different. And what that means is to not drop the corporate tax rate to zero. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
North Carolina’s plan to phase out corporate income tax by 2030 has been met with criticism from educators who argue these funds should bolster public schools. Shana Richards, a school counselor in Guilford County, emphasized, “We know that our students deserve more, and we know the gap between what they deserve and what they actually receive is showing up in ways that we can’t ignore.”
In response, three senators introduced the “Kids Over Corporations Act”, proposing a 5% corporate tax rate to secure sustained investment in education and workforce development.
Financial strains are evident in school districts this year, exacerbated by the state supreme court’s recent reversal of the Leandro decision, which had mandated a significant increase in education funding.
As the rally progressed, participants marched through downtown Raleigh, their chants and signs a testament to their cause. Ronnie Pugh, an elementary teacher in Wake County, reflected on the importance of his presence: “As soon as I heard there was a march, I knew I had to be there, just because funding is awful for North Carolina,” Pugh said. “And also, it feels amazing to be here with previous teachers from my county when I was younger.”
