Can you imagine having your wrists tied behind your back with plastic handcuffs for two hours? Can you imagine being placed in a holding cell with many others and only one public toilet that is flushed every two hours? Can you imagine risking a misdemeanor on your permanent record? Can you imagine being so dedicated to teachers and education support professionals that you would go to jail to bring attention to their plight? Well, put aside your imagination; the reality is that Rodney Ellis, President of the North Carolina affiliate of theNational Education Association, did just that.

Rodney Ellis is a leader like so many other professional union/association leaders in America. He must be the voice of teachers and other education employees whom he represents. He does not have the luxury of waiting for someone else to speak up or of closing the door of his classroom and hoping things will get better. He must be front and center and count on those who chose to work in our public schools to have his back.

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