One was on the roof of a Habitat for Humanity house in California when it occurred to her. Another was in a state senator's office in Oklahoma City. Still another was at an education conference in Minneapolis when she began to consider it.

It's a decision hundreds of educators across the country have made this year: To change the conditions in their classrooms, they would have to run for office themselves. Some 550 educators will be on election ballots this fall, according to the National Education Association, running for everything from local school board to governor.

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