Nicole Gentile, a teacher with the  Cleveland Metropolitan School District and an AFT member, wrote this message to Ohio working families about the job-killing ramifications of S.B. 5, a new law that attacks the collective bargaining rights of workers seeking to maintain a middle-class living. Together with thousands of Ohioans, Gentile is working to repeal the law in the November elections.

I just got home from Marion-Sterling Elementary School. I might not be there much longer.

After nine years teaching in Cleveland public schools, I along with 350 others, received a layoff notice due to cuts by Gov. John Kasich to public education funding.

Instead of investing in our children by funding schools like Marion-Sterling, Kasich chose to cut our budgets first. That’s not all—he and his political allies passed Senate Bill 5, now Issue 2, a bill that bans teachers from negotiating with school districts around basic issues such as class sizes.

They’re attacking teachers and public workers, but this isn’t just about that.

We’re fighting for our children’s future.

This weekend, we’re going door to door to talk to Ohioans about how S.B.  5 hurts our children’s future.

Their actions will result in larger class sizes that make it more difficult for kids to learn and create a revolving door of teachers who are hired or fired, according to budget levels.

Rather than attacking working Ohioans, Kasich ought to pass policies that create jobs and keep teachers in the classroom.

What I love most about teaching are the “aha” moments—when you’re teaching students something they’ve never understood before—and suddenly something clicks. They “get it.”

Days in the classroom can be difficult or challenging—but every teacher knows that these moments make the job worthwhile.

I’m working to defeat Issue 2 so that those moments can continue—for teachers, parents, families and school children across Ohio.

All week I’ve been calling friends and neighbors, and on Saturday I’m going door to door in my community to talk with people about voting “no” on Issue 2.

The only way we’ll defeat Issue 2 is if we work together. Click here to sign up as volunteer for the campaign.

Thanks so much for supporting us teachers and the children we teach.