Patti Waggoner is trying to figure out what to put on her teachers' strike sign.

“I want to put 'Public schools are communities, not corporations,'" says Waggoner. 

"Oh, I like that a lot," says Fanny Arana, who is sitting next to her working on her sign. “Mine is going say I teach because I care. I care because I teach."”

Waggoner and Arana are teachers at Van Nuys High School. Arana is the coordinator for the Performing Arts Magnet program and has been teaching for 30 years. Waggoner has been an English teacher for almost 20 years.

They are both strike captains at their school. As they work on their signs, they reflect on why they're doing this.

“One of the reasons why I've stayed in the teaching profession is I'm part of a community. I'm still in touch with kids who are now in their thirties and married with kids, and they check in on me at Christmas and say, 'Hey, Miss Waggoner, how are you?'” says Waggoner.

While they’re going on strike for reasons that they strongly believe in, it's still a difficult decision.

“I hate the fact that I'm going on strike. I hate the fact that I'm walking away from my students. But I have to remember the big picture is I'm doing it for my students," says Arana.

"And I'm doing it for the future generations of students, and the future generations of teachers.”

Striking on behalf of new teachers just entering the profession is something that both women are committed to. Two other teachers have stopped by to help them make more strike signs.

“I am actually going on strike just like Fanny and so many of the other teachers, for things that actually don't even affect us because we've been teaching long enough that they no longer apply to us," says Waggoner.

"So going on strike and helping the baby teachers are part of the future.”

Arana grabs her computer and sits down at the dining room table. After the initial strike date of January 10th was moved to the 14th at the last minute, teachers have been checking United Teachers Los Angeles updates almost hourly to find out where negotiations stand and if the strike is finally a go.

It is.

“We're getting ready to go on strike" says Arana with a look of disappointment.

The teachers work late into the night to finish their strike signs. Each message a simple statement of why they will be walking the picket line.