A fourth-grade teacher in North Carolina, Linelle Gorman ’14 reflects on the lessons she learned from her own advocacy work.
By Linelle Gorman ’14
It was a typical Tuesday night in my Raleigh, North Carolina, apartment. My floor was covered with construction paper, markers, glue sticks and other miscellaneous school supplies, which was not unusual. But the project I was working on was unique. I was creating a poster to bring to the “March for Students and Rally for Respect” event the following morning.
On the morning of May 16, I was bursting with an overwhelming amount of excitement and adrenaline. When the first raindrop hit the top of my head, I knew I had made the right decision to laminate my poster and buy myself a rain poncho. I was sprinting through the streets of downtown Raleigh dodging puddles and using my handmade rally sign as a makeshift umbrella. As I was searching for other educators in rally-themed red shirts, I became nervous. I was concerned the unpredictable weather would chase away participants from attending the event. I was uncertain how the event would turn out and if it would be successful. When I turned the corner, I was immediately taken by the powerful image of a sea of red-clad marchers. The positivity was unmistakable. I immediately realized that this would be a day that would not only help shape North Carolina policy but would serve as my personal inspiration to become a vocal advocate for education reform.
As an education major and North Carolina Teaching Fellow, Elon gave me a strong foundation for understanding the importance of education. My professors always demonstrated how education could be a powerful tool for an increased quality of life. The Elon Teaching Fellows program taught me the work done in the classroom provides a strong foundation for individual success. Elon’s education program set rigorous goals, ensuring that every future teacher was well-prepared to collaborate, think critically, communicate effectively and creatively solve problems. I also learned the importance of the entire community and ultimately society becoming invested in education. During my four years at Elon, I worked at five elementary schools in Alamance County. My mentor teachers modeled how to build relationships with students, the school and the community. Through these experiences, I learned the vital skills to become a teacher and advocate for all learners.
As a fourth-grade teacher in North Carolina, my goal is to provide every student with the appropriate tools to achieve academic excellence. However, our state lacks adequate funding and resources. I participated in the statewide march that day in May to advocate for change. I called for action from elected officials and spoke with legislators to demand policies that would grant every child in the state access to a better education. I marched so my students receive the tools they need to reach their full potential. I am taking civil action because my students deserve to have the required resources needed to be successful in the classroom. Our schools are impacted significantly by the loss of teacher assistants, large class sizes and outdated textbooks. North Carolina must invest in the health and well-being of students and make school safety a priority by increasing school nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors and other critical school personnel. We need to boost per-pupil spending to the national average.
Being surrounded by 20,000 courageous and strong advocates demanding change in North Carolina was inspirational. We gathered to have our voices heard and to create a powerful movement for change. I learned through this experience that great things can happen when you bring a community together. Concerned citizens from diverse backgrounds were willing to work together for a better future for students. Nearby employees cheered and supported the march from the sidewalk and office buildings. Local businesses in the area provided free water bottles, umbrellas and special restaurant discounts to participants. Through these actions, the community demonstrated their support to educators. I hope to inspire my students and show that when people pull together for a united cause, their power becomes unlimited.
As I embark on another school year and look out at the eager faces of my new students, it is easy to make a connection between my preparation at Elon and my hope to continue to push for a better future for all students. At Elon, I learned that advocacy is an important catalyst for the change we want to see. Elon encourages students to speak up and be passionate in their beliefs. I am jubilant and hopeful the momentum from the march will continue. Public education is our highest priority for the state government and we must continue to invest in our future. Not all the lessons that we share with our students are taught in the classroom.
Linelle Gorman ’14 is a fourth-grade teacher in Wake County, North Carolina.