By JC Bowman
Professional Educators of Tennessee has never claimed to be a union, nor have we sought to become one. We respect every educator’s right to choose the organization that best represents their interests. Tennessee is a right-to-work state, so no employee can be required to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. That freedom matters because today’s educators deserve meaningful choices.
We believe the challenges facing education require pragmatic thinking and modern strategies, not outdated models. Educators deserve a professional organization focused on teaching excellence, not partisan politics. Our mission is straightforward: to support educators through professional advocacy, legal protection, professional development, member benefits, and an independent voice dedicated to strengthening the teaching profession.
To those outside public education, our schools may look much the same as they did fifty years ago. Those who have spent their careers in classrooms know otherwise. Today’s educators face higher academic expectations, greater accountability, expanding social responsibilities, and unprecedented public scrutiny.
Yet one unfortunate narrative has persisted—that America’s public schools are failing because educators are failing. Teachers have too often become convenient scapegoats for broader political frustrations. Increasingly, individuals with little classroom experience seek to shape education policy while overlooking the expertise of those who work with students every day.
Every Tennessean should agree on one goal: our education system should prepare every student for success, strengthen civic responsibility, preserve democratic ideals, and equip young people for an evolving economy. Achieving that goal requires listening to educators rather than speaking for them.
The landscape of education advocacy has changed dramatically. The days when teacher unions dominated education policy discussions are fading. According to the Fordham Institute, Tennessee has the third-weakest teacher-union presence in the nation. That reality shows that education policy can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of organized labor.
Today, lawmakers hear from school leaders, parents, business organizations, education reform groups, nonprofit organizations, and independent educator associations. The marketplace of ideas has become broader, more competitive, and far less predictable than it was just a decade ago. The growth of “dark money” is also one of the biggest changes in policymaking.
Traditional unions, however, continue to rely on strategies developed in a different era. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision fundamentally reshaped public-sector unions by affirming that employees cannot be compelled to support a union financially. Membership and revenues have declined in many states, prompting many educators to reconsider whether traditional union membership best serves their professional needs.
Equally important is the growing awareness that national teacher unions have expanded their focus beyond workplace issues into non-educational political advocacy. Organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers frequently take positions on controversial political and social issues that many classroom educators neither requested nor necessarily support. Whether one agrees or disagrees with those positions is not the point. They should not be mistaken as speaking for every teacher.
Research suggests this environment has real consequences. A RAND study found that 22 percent of teachers report stress related to political issues in education. Education Week’s 2024 State of Teaching survey found that nearly seven in ten teachers believe the public holds a negative view of their profession. At a time when teacher shortages remain a concern, educators deserve organizations that reduce unnecessary division rather than contribute to it.
Professional Educators of Tennessee believes there is a better path. Independent, non-partisan professional associations allow educators to advocate for sound education policy without requiring allegiance to a political ideology. They focus on protecting educators’ professional rights, providing high-quality professional development, offering legal and liability protection, and advancing practical solutions that benefit both teachers and students. Their purpose is not to divide educators but to strengthen the profession.
Most teachers entered the profession to change lives, not to become political activists. They deserve organizations that respect their professionalism, protect their careers, and amplify their expertise. They deserve to be heard for their classroom experience, not for their political affiliation.
Public education succeeds when educators, parents, communities, and policymakers work together. That partnership grows stronger when teachers have independent organizations dedicated to excellence rather than to politics. The future of teacher advocacy will not be determined by who shouts the loudest. It will belong to those who remain focused on students, support educators with integrity, and recognize that professionalism—not partisanship—is the strongest foundation for improving our schools.
Professionalism over politics is more than a slogan. It is a commitment to restoring respect for educators, strengthening K12 education, and ensuring that the voices shaping our schools are those closest to the classroom. That is the future Professional Educators of Tennessee is committed to building.
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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Legal Notice: Permission to reprint this editorial in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author (or authors) and Professional Educators of Tennessee are properly cited.
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