John, six years ago, the unthinkable happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and seventeen lives were tragically lost.

I still work there, and still live through the trauma that day caused my students, my colleagues, and me. It’s not easy to go to work every day at the same places where three of my colleagues and fourteen students were killed, but I still show up every day.

I do it because I have to – for myself, for the students, for the community. But showing up comes with the lifelong knowledge that we can only do so much to protect our students. It may not be enough every time.

That’s how I got involved in gun control advocacy. Our children deserve better, our teachers deserve better, and our country deserves better.

As I got deeper into this work, I learned that teachers are critical to the fight for safer schools, but far too few are heard.

That’s why we started Teachers Unify: We’re giving voice to teachers’ perspective on guns and gun violence – a voice often left out of the conversation. We’re fighting for my friends, my colleagues, my students, for everyone that has had to face gun violence.

Since that day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I’ve used my voice for change – to advocate for what I believe is right, to endorse good candidates, and to fight for those who can’t anymore. And I’m so grateful you’ve joined me.

Thank you.

Sarah Lerner
Co-Founder, Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence