Teachers' Unions

Who: The organization that represents your teachers. Most districts have a local union, usually part of the NEA or AFT, with a building rep who's a regular teacher down the hall. Ask any teacher who the building rep is.

Power: In most states, the union bargains a contract with the district that sets teacher pay, hours, prep periods, extra duties, and sometimes class sizes. Anything that changes a teacher's day (a new schedule, later start times, more duties) has to fit that contract. Several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, ban collective bargaining for teachers; unions there still exist, but they lobby and advocate instead of negotiating a binding contract. How teachers are evaluated is often set by state law, not just the contract. Unions also endorse school board candidates and turn out voters, so board members listen.

What they care about: Teachers' jobs, pay, and time. They're wary of anything that piles on unpaid work, but they often fight for the same things students want: smaller classes, more counselors, better buildings. Some locals have even bargained for student issues like housing for homeless students.

How to work with them: Talk to the building rep before you go public. If your idea adds work for teachers, say how that work gets covered; if it makes their lives easier, lead with that. The union speaks for the same teachers you see every day, so win over the typical teachers in your building and the rep will hear about it.