I am a licensed teacher in the State of Virginia and I take my duty to educate young children seriously. I believe parents are a child’s first and most invested teachers and my job is halved when I work in partnership with them. I’ve become concerned and upset with how my profession has been used as a political football this past year and have LEFT THE PROFESSION as a result. Still a voter in VA, I oppose ANY AND ALL legislation that looks to use public education to incite division. SB36 is such a bill. Every school district will already have a policy on talking to children about sensitive issues such as sexuality in a developmentally appropriate way and parents always have the ability to opt out of sex education for their child.  These policies are monitored and approved by local school boards composed of elected officials. Let them do their job and place your focus on things that will keep communities in VA flourishing.