Alex became a teacher because he felt called to the classroom.
When he stepped into a leadership role in his local National Education Association-affiliated union, he expected transparency and collaboration.
Instead, he encountered vague directives, groupthink, and a closed-door culture that silenced dissent.
In 2020, as schools debated reopening, Alex watched union leadership reverse course with no clear explanation, demanding new funding for undefined safety concerns without a plan for students who would be left behind.
The union put its institutional interests ahead of students and teachers.
When Alex asked for clarity, he was met with circular logic and stonewalling.
As a teacher, he knew that posting homework online wasn't teaching.
It wasn't what his students deserved, nor was it his calling.
But the union prioritized its political agenda over educational outcomes.
Then came the political pressure.
His union, via the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), regularly sent out endorsed candidate lists and used member dues to support campaigns Alex opposed.
He hadn't become an educator to bankroll union political activity. He wanted to support educators, not union agendas.
In 2021, Alex found Americans for Fair Treatment.
With our help, he and his wife broke free from the union, joined the Keystone Teachers Association, and reclaimed control over their careers and their paychecks.
Five years later, Alex is thriving, and he has inspired colleagues to break free and make their own informed choices.
He has no regrets about leaving the union behind and wants others to know it's possible and even better on the other side.
Friend, will you help more public employees like Alex break free from union control with your generous gift of any amount today?
