The weekend before the strike, Mary (Not her real name) had trouble sleeping.

“I didn’t know what it would be like crossing the picket line," she said. "Would I be safe? Would I encounter hostile teachers?”

Arriving at school, the teacher, who asked that her identity not be revealed for this piece, passed fellow teachers, marching and chanting and disapproving of her decision not to strike.

“There was a teacher videotaping me," she said. "And I was concerned that there was going to be some retaliation. It was scary.”

Mary, whose voice was altered for our interview with her, isn’t in the union. She opted out. She doesn’t think the district can afford to meet the union’s demands, and if they do, she worries the result will be bankruptcy.

“And if that were to happen, then somebody will be appointed," she said. "There will be no more negotiations and the decisions they make could be very drastic. This could be the end of L.A. Unified as we know it.”

Another big issue is privatization.  And charter schools, something Mary supports 100 percent.

“My younger son went to charter school. He received an excellent education," she said.

"I think charter schools are the only hope. If parents have a choice where to send their children it’s going to breed excellence. I don’t see that happening in L.A. Unified ever. I think it’s too late.”

She’s worried she could face a backlash when this is over, but she says she has to do what she thinks is right. As the strike drags on, she expects tensions on the line will only increase. But when it does, she doesn’t intend to take it personally.

“People are tired. Teachers are out there in the rain, very early, all day. I’m sure they’re very worried about money," she said.

"I’m sure they see me as the bad guy and I don’t feel like I’m the bad guy. Never once from the beginning of all this have I ever wavered in my convictions in that I’m doing the right thing," said Mary. 

"I think I’m being a good role model for my children, and that’s more important that my kids see when you feel strongly about something, no matter how hard it is, you’ve got to stand up for what you believe in.”