Teachers are one of the most important pillars of any community. They educate our children, support families, and help shape the future workforce of Alabama.

But they are not alone in making our schools function every day.

Across Alabama, school bus drivers and other essential school support staff work long hours to make sure students safely reach the classroom and return home. Without them, our education system simply would not operate.

Yet many of these professionals face pay that does not reflect the importance of their work.

Beyond their official duties, many educators spend hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars out of their own pockets each year to purchase classroom supplies, learning materials, and materials their students need to succeed. Schools often cannot fully provide these items, but teachers step in because they care deeply about the children in their classrooms.

At the same time, many teachers are still carrying student loan debt from the degrees required to enter the profession. They invested in their education so they could educate others, yet they often struggle to repay those loans while working in a field that is essential to society.

Low pay combined with these financial pressures contributes directly to:

• Teacher shortages
• Burnout among educators and school employees
• Difficulty attracting new teachers to Alabama
• Difficulty recruiting school bus drivers and staff
• Instability within our schools

When we fail to support teachers, students ultimately pay the price.

We are calling on the Alabama Legislature to implement meaningful and sustainable increases in teacher salaries across the state.

Funding solutions must also be considered. Alabama continues to leave potential revenue sources untapped.

Many other states have successfully implemented state lotteries and regulated marijuana markets, and in several cases those revenues are directed toward public education and teacher funding. These programs have generated billions of dollars nationally and helped support schools, scholarships, and classroom resources. Across the country, states such as Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, and Michigan have successfully used lottery or regulated cannabis revenue to support education programs and schools.

If similar revenue streams are adopted in Alabama, those funds should be directly allocated to teacher salaries and public education so that the people educating Alabama’s children finally receive the support they deserve.

Education funding should not disappear into bureaucracy or unrelated spending — it should reach the classrooms and the educators who serve our children every day.

Alabama’s future depends on strong schools, and strong schools depend on respected and fairly compensated teachers.

Alabama cannot expect top educators to stay — or new teachers to come — if surrounding states offer better pay and stronger support.

Teachers should not have to choose between supporting their students and supporting their own families. Bus drivers and school staff should not struggle financially while ensuring the safety and stability of our school systems.

Sign this petition to urge Alabama lawmakers to prioritize teacher pay and invest in the future of our state.