Professional Educators of Tennessee is a professional association; we are not a labor union.

 Though not anti-union, we believe that new realities require new thinking, pragmatic solutions, and fresh ideas. Otherwise, we fear that the voices of teachers will not be heard, and the experiences of teachers not considered. 

Tennessee is a "right to work” state. This means that by law, employees cannot be forced to join a professional organization as a term of employment. Many Tennessee educators join our association to remain part of a professional organization as an alternative to teacher unionism.

Over 900,000 professional educators across the country have decided to join a professional association instead of a labor union.

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If you are looking for an organization nurtured and sustained by dedicated education professionals that is committed to providing you with the protection, advocacy and resources that will allow you to focus on the reasons you became an educator in the first place, along with affordable dues, you will like what Professional Educators of Tennessee has to offer. 

We hope you will make the decision to join our organization.

Professional Educators of Tennessee proves it is possible to be a state-focused, professional teachers association, advancing the profession through teacher advocacy and professional development as well as promoting excellence in education for students without being a top-down, centralized, controlled union engaged in militant tactics. We believe that professional educators need to be a member of a professional association that reflects their values and beliefs. Professional Educators of Tennessee encourages current and potential members to research each educators’ organization to find the one that best suits them professionally and personally. We understand you have a choice to join the organization that best represents your ethics and philosophy, and we respect your choice.