Teaching and assessing student work, of course, are supposed to be the main jobs in the field of education. And yet, teachers are being asked to act as behavior specialists, therapists, instructional designers, substitute parents, and everything in between. They’re managing classroom behavior, communicating with parents, administering high-stakes testing, being asked to attend politically-biased teacher trainings, and constantly defending their expertise, all while underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated.
It’s no wonder that public confidence in education has hit new lows. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, only 26 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in public schools, the lowest in nearly 50 years.
But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, this pressure cooker is sparking something powerful: a new wave of teacher-led advocacy organizations. These are not your traditional unions. And for many educators, that’s precisely the point.
Why teachers are seeking non-union associations like American Teachers Alliance
Unions have historically played a vital role in protecting workers’ rights, and many educators are still active members. But in recent years, growing numbers of teachers have voiced concerns about politics, engagements, and a lack of proper representation for diverse perspectives.
Educators like Amy Marshall, a veteran teacher and the founder of American Teachers Alliance (ATA), saw a gap and stepped in to fill it.
“Teachers needed a space that wasn’t tethered to ideology or politics,” Marshall says. “They needed support that was not politically biased.”
The story of American Teachers Alliance
In 2019, Marshall was working in a North Carolina school district when she declined to participate in a mandatory critical race theory training that required “white privilege” reflection assignments. The retaliation she experienced afterward led to her resignation, but it also lit a fire.
Rather than walk away from education entirely (like most teachers did during The Great American Teacher Exodus, which reached its peak during 2020-2021), she began building something new. By 2021, that vision had become the American Teachers Alliance, a national advocacy group designed to give educators legal support, liability coverage, benefits, and a professional community without the political baggage or union mandates.
What started as the Carolina Teachers Alliance quickly expanded beyond state lines, attracting teachers from across the country who shared the same desire: to teach without fear, without pressure, and without having to compromise their values.
What makes ATA different
ATA isn’t just another policy group. It’s a teacher-founded, teacher-led organization with one clear mission: to protect the right to provide unbiased, achievement-driven education to every student. It’s not about pushing an agenda; it’s about returning to the fundamentals of education, which are knowledge, critical thinking, and student achievement.
Not only does ATA focus on unbiased education but also on unbiased advocacy and legal protection. Unlike traditional unions, which often come with steep dues and political entanglements, ATA provides educators and all school staff members with professional educators’ liability coverage, legal resources, and a full suite of benefits. Members get the peace of mind that comes with professional support, but without having to endorse or fund a particular political cause.
ATA is also deeply rooted in real classroom experience. Marshall holds a master’s degree in history and a bachelor’s degree in biology. She taught public school science and math, and holds multiple K-12 teaching licenses in science, math, and social studies. She is also currently an assistant professor teaching college history online. That first-hand experience means ATA’s policies, resources, and advocacy are informed by the actual needs of teachers, not just abstract policy debates. It’s an organization led by educators, for educators.
A movement, not just a membership
With growing media coverage and new members joining weekly, ATA is part of a larger national trend: educators reclaiming the narrative around public schooling.
While culture wars play out in headlines and school board meetings, many teachers simply want to do what they were trained to do: teach. But doing so in today’s climate often requires support networks that are independent, trusted, and aligned with real classroom experience.
ATA has become that network for thousands of teachers, school staff, and even parents. It’s not just an organization. It’s a refuge for those who feel caught in the middle of political crossfire, and a rallying point for those who want to center education on academic growth, not ideology.
A new era of teacher empowerment
The rise of groups like ATA signals a paradigm shift in how educators engage with advocacy and professional protection. Educators are ready for alternatives to political teacher unions.
As public trust in education continues to falter, the solution isn’t more political bias from unions. It’s a more teacher-driven leadership, and more stories like Amy Marshall’s.
