Raleigh teacher rally: Nash/Rocky Mount public schools giving teachers optional workday May 1

According to a written statement, the district's administrators said parents in Nash County and Rocky Mount should expected to receive an automated call about the decision at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

"This change will not require a make-up day for students or instructional staff," the statement said.

Symone Kiddoo, a social worker in Durham, said she and several other employees have decided to join the rally. Kiddoo said being a school social worker has changed since she first took the job.

"This first grader's voice trembled as he described how scary his home life is and how he didn't feel like anyone would care if he died and his voice haunts me, because no child should have to feel that way but also because I knew that there were so many other students' voices that went unheard and go unheard because there is one school psychologist for every 2,083 students in North Carolina," she said.

The North Carolina Association of Educators, which is organizing the event, held a similar rally last year, which drew an estimated 19,000 people and closed more than 40 school systems. NCAE President Mark Jewell has predicted this year's event will be even larger.

"We are educators doing this for students that we teach every single day to make sure they are successful and have every opportunity to succeed," Michelle Burton said.

Deborrah Bailey is a school custodian and said she wants to be paid a livable wage, as she believes her job helps children too.

"My question is what is the incentive to remain in these roles? Are we not worthy of $15?," Bailey asked.

So far, 13 school districts and two charter schools have announced they are closing for the May 1 rally.

In a statement Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger blasted the "far-left North Carolina Association of Educators."

NCAE "has changed the goalposts year after year on what its priorities are, but its primary mission has remained the same: to mislead the public into thinking Republicans are bad for educationm" Berger said. "NCAE is calling on teachers to strike despite historic increases in teacher pay and education spending under Republican leadership. The far-left NCAE strike will keep kids out of the classroom and force parents to find childcare. Despite the fact that Medicaid already covers every child with a family income up to 138% of the federal poverty line, the NCAE is pushing teachers to strike over Obamacare Medicaid expansion, which has nothing to do with education.

Johnson asked teachers to consider taking action on a day when schools are not in session.

"I ask that teachers come over spring break and meet with me, meet with their lawmakers. Let’s have productive conversations," he said. "But again, this doesn’t mean we don’t support teachers, we just have to ultimately realize that a lot of consequences happen if we ask for a day off of school."

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools cancel classes for students ahead of planned May 1 teacher rally

This year, Johnson plans to spend the day on May 1 at the state Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh for the planned State Board of Education meeting.

Emails, texts reveal NC superintendent's internal discussions about 2018 teacher rally

NCAE leaders say last year's event led to some changes in the state budget and at the ballot box. Teachers got raises this year, and Republicans lost their veto-proof majorities in the legislature.

NCAE's president said the group has five priorities for this year's rally: