In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear: public employees can’t be forced to give money to a union they don’t support.
The Janus v. AFSCME ruling was a big win for free speech and freedom of association.
And yet, six years later, many teachers across the country – yes, even right here in Nevada – still feel pressured to stay silent or fall in line.
That’s where the Teacher Freedom Alliance comes in.
Launched in May 2025, this new nonprofit is making waves. Its mission? To help educators teach the next generation to be “free, moral, and upright American citizens.”
That’s their words, straight from their website. Sounds pretty reasonable, right?
But some folks don’t see it that way – especially the powerful teachers’ unions who’ve gotten used to having all the control and none of the pushback.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about attacking teachers. It’s about giving them a choice.
And that’s something the National Education Association (NEA) – the nation’s largest teachers’ union with about 3 million members – wants no part of.
Here’s a good example:
In 2025, the NEA made headlines when the National Teacher of the Year gave a speech about “protecting democracy through education.”
Sounds noble, but critics say it was less about reading and writing and more about pushing a political message.
The NEA has a long history of pouring millions into left-wing causes and candidates.
In fact, according to OpenSecrets, the NEA’s political spending in 2022 was over $40 million – almost all of it going to Democrats.
Now, no one’s saying teachers can’t have political views.
But forcing dues-paying members to support causes they don’t agree with? That’s a different story.
Right-to-work laws help fix that. These laws say you can’t be forced to pay union dues just to keep your job.
Twenty-eight states have them on the books. Nevada is one of them, thankfully.
But the debate is still raging in places like New Mexico, where union-backed lawmakers have tried to roll back these protections, and New Hampshire, where they’re fighting to keep them.
The Teacher Freedom Alliance is stepping up to help teachers who want to speak out but are afraid of being blackballed or bullied.
It offers legal resources, training, and support networks. Basically, it gives good teachers a way to stand on their values without losing their jobs or their peace of mind.
Here in Nevada, where union politics are tightly woven into state government, the fight is just as real.
Public school teachers in Clark County or Washoe County may technically have a choice – but how many feel like they can actually say no?
The Supreme Court sided with freedom in 2018. That ruling should’ve settled the issue.
But in the real world, it’s not always that simple. Teachers who leave the union often face pressure, isolation, or outright harassment.
That’s not right.
Critics of groups like the Teacher Freedom Alliance say they’re trying to “weaken unions” or “undermine collective bargaining.” But that misses the point.
This isn’t about breaking up unions. It’s about giving teachers – especially those with different political or moral views – a fair shot at being heard.
In a time when schools are struggling with low test scores, staff shortages, and frustrated parents, the last thing we need is a one-size-fits-all political agenda being pushed from the top down.
Teachers shouldn’t be treated like ATMs for union bosses or mouthpieces for political causes. They’re educators. They deserve support, not silence.
It’s time we stopped treating the First Amendment like an afterthought. Teachers have rights, too.
And thanks to the Janus decision – and new groups like the Teacher Freedom Alliance – they’ve finally got someone fighting for them.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
