Marjorie Punter made a shocking discovery on her first day of school at Belmont High School in Dayton, Ohio: there were no textbooks for her students.

“It was devastating to find out how far behind we were,” said Punter, who teaches 11th and 12th grade literature in the special education program at the Dayton, Ohio high school.

With 42 years of teaching experience, Punter had plenty of knowledge and tricks up her sleeve to get by and help her students learn for a few weeks. But she knew these students needed books.

Punter took the textbook problem to her principal, David White, who was new to Belmont at the time. White made phone call after phone call, each time being told Belmont couldn’t get textbooks for the special education students. That’s when the Dayton Education Association (DEA) got involved.

“I went to my union and said, ‘Now what do I do?’” said Punter. “They said you’re going to file a grievance and we’re going to get those kids books.”

DEA President David Romick, who at the time was DEA vice-president and a teacher at Belmont, explained to Principal White that the union was going to file a grievance against him for “not providing appropriate supplies and materials.” White welcomed the grievance.

Because Punter stood up for her students, and worked with the Dayton Education Association and her principal to do whatever it takes for the students, every Dayton Public Schools special education student in high school now has a textbook for every subject in their curriculum.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you use your union to help you get what you need for your students,” said Punter.

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