UPDATED STORY:
St. Lucie County educators know one voice can make a beautiful sound.
However, thousands of voices joined together can potentially make a difference.
Armed with signs and those voices, educators from around the state made their way to Tallahassee - marching a half mile from the civic center to the Capitol.
They chanted to any lawmaker that would listen what became the theme of the day - 'Enough is Enough'.
Rebecca Petrie is one of those teachers who says the system is burdening her and her students.
"We spend too much time assessing and not enough time teaching," she says.
Standing by her side, her own former grade school teacher Vicki Rodriguez, who says the importance of teachers is being marginalized.
Teachers say the emphasis on standardized testing, and a lack of funding from lawmakers they say never step foot in a classroom - are driving teachers away.
"They came in to teach, and they realize that is not really what they get to do," Rodriguez says. "They have to jump through a lot of hoops to make a lot of people happy, and that doesn't have a whole lot to do with kids."
At the end of the day, it is about sending a message.
"Our voices are being heard right now," Petrie says. "I know they are."
It's a chorus of voices united, and these teachers guarantee it will grow louder.
Several law makers could be seen at today's rally, but teachers tell us none of them met with any teachers.
Educatorss tell us they Thursday was a good day for the rally, because it's so early on in the legislative session - that it may get the attention of lawmakers early on in the bill passing process.
NewsChannel 5 is in Tallahassee Thursday with a group of teachers from St. Lucie County.
These teachers are trying to bring attention to issues they say exist within the education system that include problems with testing to problems with classroom size.
The teachers plan on marching from the Civic Center in Tallahassee to the Capitol Courtyard.
About 52 educators are making the trip from St. Lucie to Tallahassee.
In total, 3,000 educators from across the state are expected at the march.
Follow reporter Jason Hackett on his Twitter page.
Hackett will be tweeting, sending out updates and videos, and talking to teachers about what's concerning them, and what they want fixed.
The march is underway! A sea of teachers making their way down West Pensacola street #4PublicEd @WPTV pic.twitter.com/KyO2RM3QMX
— Jason Hackett (@JHackettWPTV) January 14, 2016
Up early and hitting the road. Heading to Tallahassee on special assignment. Stay tuned! @WPTV pic.twitter.com/wZSGRSwlZu
— Jason Hackett (@JHackettWPTV) January 14, 2016
