Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence is a grassroots movement of educators, school staff, and allies across America who are raising their voices to demand safety from gun violence in our communities. By “educators” we mean all school folks current/retired/former who support, guide, teach children, and keep them safe. 

Teachers Unify was founded by three public school teachers and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) members: Abbey Clements, Sarah Lerner, and Sari Beth Rosenberg. Two of the co-founders survived two of the worst of America’s school shootings – Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, CT, in 2012 (Abbey) and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL, in 2018 (Sarah). With over 75 years of teaching experience among them, the founders intend Teachers Unify to fill a gap in the national dialogue around gun violence that has too long excluded teachers.

“I feel afraid to teach because I don’t want to die. I feel terrified of any more children becoming victims of gun violence at school. I want to be part of the solution that helps to better society by making it a safer place to live.”-Kirstan MN Teacher for 8 years.

Your support empowers educators to lead campaigns for safer schools, uplift and influence safe schools and communities impacted or living in fear of gun violence, and secure a seat at the table to drive real change in prevention and trauma-effective solutions.

Our work centers on key initiatives:

Crisis Intervention Team: a peer-to-peer support network pairing educators who’ve experienced gun violence with impacted school communities.

Leadership Summit: our annual gathering where teachers, survivors, and advocates come together to heal, build leadership skills, and shape educator-driven solutions to end gun violence.

Secure Storage Campaign: an educator-led effort to shift culture around firearm safety by promoting secure storage practices to prevent school shootings, suicide by gun, and unintentional shootings.

Amplify the Educator Voice for Change: elevating the lived experiences and expertise of educators through storytelling, media advocacy, and policy engagement to drive systemic change and influence safer school and community environments.