The Critical Importance of Teacher Advocacy

Melissa Tomlinson is a veteran special education teacher with 24 years of experience and a passionate advocate for public education. Her activism began in 2014 when she joined the Badass Teachers Association (BATs), a national grassroots network of educators fighting for equity, justice, and fully funded public schools. She now serves as Executive Director, leading national efforts to uplift educator voices and champion student-centered policies. In New Jersey, Melissa is an active leader in the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). She has served on various county and state committees and currently represents her county on the NJEA State Executive Committee. Her union work emphasizes transparency, equity, and democratic engagement. She is also a co-founder of NJ21United, a progressive NJEA caucus working to strengthen union democracy and defend public education. Through NJ21United, she's been deeply involved in the Divest NJ Campaign, pushing for state pension divestment from fossil fuels and reinvestment in sustainable futures. Beyond education and union activism, Melissa supports broader justice movements. She helped found both National Educators United and Educators 4 Palestine, connecting educators nationwide in the fight against oppression and for human rights. In 2023, Melissa co-founded the Atlantic County Queer Alliance, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQIA individuals and organizations across South Jersey. As Deputy Director, she helps create inclusive spaces and build lasting community connections. Her work has earned multiple honors, including the Becca Ritchie Badass Activist Tribute, the Fierce Ally Award from Pride in May's Landing, and NJEA's 2024 Equity Champion Award. Rooted in compassion and driven by justice, Melissa continues to fight for schools and communities where everyone is valued and empowered. Brianne Kramer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Southern Utah University where she teaches Social Foundations of Education courses. Additionally, she coordinates the Educational Foundations and Policy major for the Master's of Education and Master's of Interdisciplinary Studies programs. She earned a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Toledo, and her research focuses on teacher workforce issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion, educational policy, and teacher activism. She co-edited the 2022 book Children and Trauma: Critical Perspectives for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Educational Communities. She also currently serves on the ACLU Utah Board of Directors and is a Contributing Scholar for the Policy Research-to-Policy Collaboration housed at Pennsylvania State University.

Acknowledgments Foreword Chapter 1. "The Intersection is Undeniable" Melissa Tomlinson Chapter 2. To Do No Harm Maureen McGurk Chapter 3. "Every Voice and Every Person Has Value" Petal Robertson Chapter 4. "Progress Comes When We Stand Shoulder to Shoulder" Tamar La-Sure Owens Chapter 5. "I Have to Care, and I Have to Be Loud About It!" Rebecca Rothstein Chapter 6. "Then You Become an Advocate" Larry Proffitt Chapter 7. "If We're Doing It Right, It Is Messy" Chelsie Joy Acosta Chapter 8. The Idea of Being a Troublemaker Brianne Kramer Chapter 9. Building Intersectional Struggles Anonymous Chapter 10. "It's Not Going to Get Better Unless . . . " Juliana Krueger Dauble Chapter 11. "What's the Alternative? Do Nothing?!" Stephen Siegel Chapter 12. Ant Work Marj Hogan About the Authors Index NOTE: Table of Contents subject to change up until publication date.