Brie Baumgarten is vice president of the Association of Linden Educators in San Joaquin County 12 miles east of Stockton. The local and its school district of 115 teachers recently went to impasse for the first time in their history. ALE has successfully used social media to convey information to the community and garner more member activity and support; its “Did You Knows” on Facebook, for example, let people know that the district is sitting on massive reserves — 41% more than the state requires.

At the September board meeting, dozens of ALE members showed up wearing red. The October meeting drew twice the number of members. Following Baumgarten’s speech below, all ALE members walked out together. “Nothing felt stronger or better than in that moment,” she said.

I stand before you tonight as the vice president of the Association of Linden Educators — but also as a teacher, a parent and someone who deeply loves this district.

At the last board meeting, I spoke about the disappointment our teachers feel over the stalled negotiations. I left that night feeling unheard and unseen. It was clear that minds were already made up.

Board members, I hope you took the time to read the emails my members sent you about their paycheck concerns. Because only one of you responded. One. You are our board. You represent us — you should not resent us.

If you had read those emails, you would have seen the real impact of the insurance increase: an average post-tax loss of $142 a month — with some teachers losing as much as $280. That’s not a small number when you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

Your silence told us everything. It told us you don’t care. We are here tonight because our teachers are hurting. In my last speech, I said we weren’t angry — we were disappointed. That is no longer the case.

“The profession we love has been devalued, disrespected and dismissed. What happened to the ‘superheroes’ we were in 2019? Since then, class sizes have grown, workloads have multiplied, and the respect has faded.”

— Association of Linden Educators VP Brie Baumgarten

We are angry.

We are working harder than ever, giving everything we have to our students, yet we are falling further behind. The cost of living keeps climbing — groceries, gas, rent, insurance — everything. But our paychecks have not kept up. The 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment we’re asking for doesn’t make us rich. It doesn’t even catch us up. It simply helps us hold on.

We are fighting to stay here — to stay in Linden Unified. We are fighting to stay in teaching. The profession we love has been devalued, disrespected and dismissed. What happened to the “superheroes” we were in 2019? Since then, class sizes have grown, workloads have multiplied, and the respect has faded.

And for me personally, I am fighting for my own children to stay in this district. I want them to grow up surrounded by the incredible educators who built this community. I should not have to consider leaving for financial reasons. No teacher should. But every year, that fight gets harder.

Teachers should not have to choose between paying their bills and staying in the classroom. We should not have to watch our colleagues leave for districts that value their work more. And we should not have to beg — year after year — for the basic dignity of keeping up with inflation.

This district is sitting on massive reserves — far beyond what the state requires. Meanwhile, the teachers — the very foundation of this district — are being stretched to their limits. That’s not balance. That’s not fairness. And it’s not sustainable.

We come here tonight with passion, with pride and with a deep commitment to our students. We love what we do. We love this community. But love doesn’t pay the bills.

We want Linden to be a district that keeps great teachers — not one that drives them away. Do not make me be the next to leave.