The Mae Jemison High School teacher didn’t have any more sick days that he could take to stay with his little girl, Kinsley. His daughter is getting treatment 100 miles from home and she needs him to be there when he can.

So, fellow educators in Huntsville, Alabama, chipped in with their sick days — it added up to 100 days.

Most teachers in the United States get one sick day a month. A lack of paid leave has devastating consequences for teachers who can’t afford to take time off for personal sickness or the birth of a child.

Low wages make it impossible for teachers to save for unpredictable situations or emergency expenses. Almost half the teaching workforce lacks access to retirement benefits.

Read more on CNN.