Merchant Ship Collective | Education Catalyst

Every year, the education system loses thousands of passionate teachers—professionals who once fought tirelessly for their students but ultimately felt unheard, unsupported, and exhausted.
The system, broken as it is, desperately needs those very voices — but not in resignation. It needs them in revolution.

The solution isn't mass resignation. It’s mass advocacy.
It’s teachers taking the same passion, loyalty, and courage they pour into their students — and finally pouring it into themselves.

The Problem: Teachers Are Leaving Because They Feel Powerless

Teacher turnover in the United States reached an all-time high in 2023, with 13% of public school teachers either resigning or retiring, and many citing burnout, poor leadership, and low pay as leading causes (Goldhaber & Theobald, 2023).
Moreover, over 55% of teachers have considered leaving the profession earlier than planned due to stress (National Education Association [NEA], 2022).

For years, teachers have been excellent advocates — but mostly for their students.
They have not been systematically trained or empowered to advocate effectively for themselves.

Without teacher voices actively shaping the system, the policies worsen, leadership becomes more disconnected, and public education suffers.

The Shift: Advocating for Yourself IS Advocating for Students

Research shows that positive teacher working conditions directly correlate with better student outcomes (Kini & Podolsky, 2016).
When you fight for better pay, authentic leadership, appropriate class sizes, and realistic workloads, you are still advocating for students — because what’s bad for teachers is always bad for students.

Imagine if every teacher stood up — not just for individual students — but for the entire profession.

Action Steps: How Teachers Can Reclaim Their Power

1. Advocate Locally, Relentlessly.

• Speak at school board meetings; public participation directly influences local education policy (Harris & Herrington, 2021).

• Organize or participate in teacher-led forums.

• Write letters to local newspapers and build public awareness of classroom realities.

2. Refuse to Normalize Toxic Conditions.

• Stop accepting "this is just how it is" as the final answer.

• Publicly document excessive workloads, unethical administrative behavior, and violations of educational standards.

• Use community partners to escalate concerns when necessary.

3. Demand Union Accountability — or Build Better Representation.

• Only 10% of teachers report feeling that their unions fully represent their daily challenges (Eckert, 2022).

• Challenge union leadership to be truly member-driven. Organize caucuses. Push for transparency and stronger contracts.

4. Build Strong Alliances with Parents and Community Leaders.

• Parents are natural allies. According to a 2022 Pew Research study, 68% of parents want to be more engaged in shaping school environments (Pew Research Center, 2022).

• Form coalitions that advocate for policies that benefit both students and teachers.

5. Protect Each Other.

• Solidarity is protection. Collective documentation, grievance filing, and advocacy provide a safety net against retaliation.

• Educators working together are far more powerful than isolated individuals.

Remember: You Are Essential to the Fight for Real Education Reform

Walking away might seem like the only option. In some cases, for personal well-being, it is the right choice.
But for those who choose to stay: you are not powerless.

You are a catalyst.

The same determination you use to advocate for a student's IEP, a 504 plan, or a fair grade must now be used to demand better working conditions, authentic leadership, and educational justice.

Not for applause. Not for administration.
For yourselves. For each other. For the future of education.

Fight smart. Fight together. Fight for real change.

We Want to Hear From You!

Poll Question:
What is the biggest barrier you face when trying to advocate for yourself as a teacher?

• Lack of administrative support

• Fear of retaliation

• Feeling isolated

• Not knowing where to start

• Other (please share!)

In solidarity,

The Merchant Ship Collective
Education Catalyst

References

Eckert, J. (2022). Teacher agency and union engagement: Why advocacy must evolve. Journal of Education Policy, 37(2), 181–195. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2021.1910789

Goldhaber, D., & Theobald, R. (2023). Teacher attrition and mobility during the pandemic. Educational Researcher, 52(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X221135703

Harris, D. N., & Herrington, C. D. (2021). Accountability policies and school board politics. Educational Policy, 35(5), 786–811. https://doi.org/10.1177/0895904820983616

Kini, T., & Podolsky, A. (2016). Does teaching experience increase teacher effectiveness? A review of the research. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/brief-teaching-experience

National Education Association. (2022). Survey: Alarming numbers of educators may soon leave the profession. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/nea-survey-alarming-number-educators-may-soon-leave-profession

Pew Research Center. (2022). Parents, schools and the future of education. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/10/26/parents-schools-and-the-future-of-education/