Teachers wait for a decision on the #RedforED movement

Teachers are hoping for a decision to be made by lawmakers when it comes to the fight for education. On the fifth day of the movement, it’s the largest walkout in modern American history.

“I miss school because I like getting to learn about stuff,” said Gabriella Velazquez, a student who is cheering with her teachers in support, “When I grow up I want to be a doctor, and to be able to be a doctor, I need to go to school.”

Earlier this week Governor Doug Ducey proposed a deal to increase teacher pay by 20 percent by the year 2020. The proposal also included an increase of 100 million in school funding, but teachers are still feeling uneasy about the proposal.

“We did get many concessions that the Governor did not have in his plan before so we feel like this walkout was worth it,” said Noel Margo, a kindergarten teacher and a RedforED coordinator in Yuma.

“We consider it the first step and we’re going to keep climbing higher.”

What might be only a ‘first step’, might be a big step for a better future for teachers. For Gracie Gresham, a ninth grader at Cibola High School, she’s seen her family fight for education her whole life.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher cause I look up to my mom. My aunt is a teacher, my grandma helped with special education, and I look up to my mom as my biggest inspiration. I see her go through this, but she’s really strong so I’m really proud of her.”