Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1337485
N J U L Y, Erika Martinez resigned from her teach- ing position at Liberty Elementar y School in Tulare. With her school on the verge of resuming in-person instruction, Martinez quit her job to protect her 3-year-old daughter, parents and herself during a pandemic. It was an agonizing decision. Martinez has multiple sclerosis, and was worried that COVID-19 would worsen her condition. She also feared that her daughter could become ill or become a COVID carrier and infect her parents, who provided day care. She thought about requesting a leave of absence. But for the good of her second graders, she decided to resign, because she feared that otherwise they might have a revolving door of substitute teachers. It was the ultimate sacrifice for this 13-year classroom teacher, who served as president of the Liberty Teachers Association. Pandemic pushes women out of the workforce Martinez is part of a growing wave of females being f orc e d o ut of th e w orkf orc e du e to C OVI D - 1 9 , a s women shoulder the responsibility of family and child rearing — especially during a time of sickness and eco- nomic upheaval. Women Educators Caught in a Bind Pandemic forces many to choose between career, family By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin I Getty Images 32 cta.org Feature