A Catalyst for Change
Facing one of the most challenging school years in district history, the Forsyth County Association of Educators (FCAE) has moved mountains to drive change in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. Hundreds of educators have joined FCAE to demand better for themselves and the students they serve.
As the union moves closer to majority status, educators have organized their colleagues, delivered a majority petition signed by more than 3,400 staff members, and rallied at Board of Education and County Commission meetings to hold leaders accountable.
Ask any educator and they will tell you that the situation in WS/FCS is not one they created, however if the union has its way, it is one that they will be instrumental in solving for the betterment of the children and communities of Forsyth County.
Bearing the Burden
$46 million.
Last year, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) district discovered it was facing a $46 million budget shortfall. That gap—combined with chronic underfunding at both the county and state levels—forced devastating decisions, including a massive reduction in force that cost hundreds of educators their livelihoods and disrupted the stability of even more students. Once again, public schools were asked to do more with less.
This shortfall came as private schools in Forsyth County received more than $18 million during the 2024–2025 school year, the General Assembly failed to pass a state budget, and corporations headquartered in Forsyth County like Collins Aerospace and Inmar Intelligence generated billions in revenue without paying their fair share in corporate income taxes back to North Carolina thanks to the General Assembly's policies.
“Our school board’s decision last week is one that will have devastating impacts not only on the staff directly impacted, but on their students, their coworkers, and on our entire WS/FCS school community,” said Forsyth Association of Educators (FCAE) President Jenny Easter in a social media statement. “School staff and students who had nothing to do with causing this budget crisis should not have to pay the price.”
With the district, county, and state failing to prioritize students, FCAE members knew their kids couldn’t wait. Last October, they launched a majority campaign to become majority strong, with the goal of putting students first and fighting for what educators truly need.
Having An Honest Conversation
For months, the community worked to help WS/FCS reduce its deficit. During that same time, FCAE focused on building both its membership—adding hundreds of new members—and its collective power.
In February, educators delivered a majority petition signed by more than 3,400 staff members to the Board of Education. The petition called for:
- An end to cuts to programs, staff, benefits, and wages
- Additional staffing to adequately serve students, especially in understaffed areas like Special Education
- Guaranteed pay for extra duties and accurate, on-time compensation for all staff
- Meaningful, protected planning time for educators
- Adoption of a Meet and Confer policy to ensure educators have a voice in district decision-making
That organizing effort led a majority of board members to agree to a public conversation with educators and parents in April. At Carver High School, educators filled the auditorium, raising red and green cards to signal their views as board members responded to union demands.
Panelists shared firsthand accounts of the district’s impact—from students not receiving necessary support to educators managing significantly increased workloads due to staffing cuts.
“We lost 30% of our assistant principals districtwide,” said Chris Wiley. “Many of those remaining were reassigned from schools where they had built strong relationships just to fill gaps. Perhaps worst of all, 22 schools in our district now don’t even have a full-time assistant principal.”
While educators and board members found some common ground—including the need for increased funding—the board’s priorities still fell short of educator demands, particularly around Exceptional Children (EC) staffing.
“I’m here tonight because next Tuesday when you take your budget request vote, you have a choice,” said Michele Jordan, a parent of an exceptional child and a retired educator. “I’m asking you to choose to stand up for the EC staffing that we need, so people like my daughter can get the fair shake and the education they deserve.”
Quote byMichele Jordan, EC Parent & Retired Teacher
Saving Our Selves
On April 15, FCAE members rallied and picketed outside the Board of Education meeting, urging board members to fight for what students and educators truly need—not just what they believe county commissioners might approve.
“Everyone is coming in here, and they're asking you guys to fight," said Quamekia Shavers. "The mission is simple, we just need you to carry it out, because you are the face and you are the voice. Now, you may not walk with what you want, but you may walk out with more than what county commissioners would've given you if you didn't go in there and fight."
By the end of the night, however, the board chose to delay action, tabling the vote on the proposed budget for a later date.
Despite the postponement, President Easter made one thing clear:
“Put in a day for May 1,” she said on social media. “Because ain’t nobody in this district trying to save any of us, y’all. We’ve gotta unite and save ourselves.”
