NC teachers raise their voices with creative signs at May Day rally
By Scott Sharpe
Annie Toth, a science teacher at Myers Park High School in Charlotte displays her sign before the teachers march in Raleigh.
T. Keung Hui
khui@newsobserver.com
Thousands marched in Raleigh Friday for a protest organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators.
The rally was among more than 3,500 events across the nation under the May Day Strong banner. School systems across the state cancelled classes or move to online teaching due to teacher absences, Friday, May 1, 2026.
Many marchers carried a variety of creative signs voicing concerns and outrage and the current state of education including issues of teacher pay and staffing.
Here are photos of some of the signs. For live updates from the rally, see this story.
Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg art teacher Megan Hill displays her signs at the teacher’s march in Raleigh. T. Keung Hui khui@newsobserver.com
A parent at Carrboro Elementary made May Day earrings for first grade teacher Mayra Menjivar and other staff attending the NCAE protest Friday. Menjivar said while her district gets strong local funding, her and other districts need more funding from the state. Twumasi Duah-Mensah tduahmensah@newsobserver.com
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall for the May Day teacher’s march and protest in Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026.
Katie Messmer, a special education teacher from Transylvania County, waits for the start the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Sean Cacciabaudo and his daughter Mattea Cacciabaudo attend the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, calling for higher teacher pay, and an end to corporate tax breaks and private school vouchers, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Aaron Schmidt of Raleigh, N.C., shows his support for his wife, and fellow educators, during the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Staff from Carrboro Elementary — from left, Zaile Letriz, Emily Menjivar, Mayra Menjivar and Lizbet Garcia — rally at the NCAE protest Friday. Mayra Menjivar said she and others want to use their voice to speak up for children and those in their community who cannot. Twumasi Duah-Mensah tduahmensah@newsobserver.com
Third grade Franklinton Elementary School teachers Emeline Wilson (left) and Mary Perkinson (right). Faith Wardwell fwardwell@newsobserver.com
One of many signs at the N.C. May Day protest in Raleigh. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Beth Alderson, an academic coach at Rockfish Hoke Elementary in Raeford. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Raegan Amos left, Emma Austin right arrived early for the teacher march in Raleigh. Twumasi Duah-Mensah tduahmensah@newsobserver.com
A protest sign at the Raleigh rally for teachers and education. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Lynda Lee of Greenville holds up her "Educators Just Wanna Have Fundquot; sign as she arrived for the teacher march, parking in a downtown garage across from Halifax Mall. Lee has taught since 1970 and now works part-time at Elmhurst Elementary School in Pitt County. Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan dvaughn@newsobserver.com
A protester displays their sign supporting teachers before the march in downtown Raleigh. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
A protester displays their sign supporting teachers before the march in downtown Raleigh. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
A protester displays their sign supporting teachers before the march in downtown Raleigh. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
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