I am a self-professed mama lion. I will protect my own - be it this blog, my work or my family. But I have a special kind of ferocity when it comes to my children. There is nothing I won't do to protect them or to try to give them a better life than I've had. I don't think this is a unique quality among parents.

Before my kids were even a twinkle in their daddy's eye, we considered school districts in deciding which cities and neighborhoods to look for a home. I figured it was cheaper in the long run to look for a home in the right school district than it was to pay for private schooling later on. Sadly, not every parent has that luxury.

Kelley Williams-Bolar didn't. And now she's paying an unbelievable price for her mama lion instincts to protect her children and give them a better life. From Change.org

"An Ohio mother of two was sentenced to 10 days in jail and placed on three years probation after sending her kids to a school district in which they did not live. Kelley Williams-Bolar was sentenced by Judge Patricia Cosgrove on Tuesday and will begin serving her sentence immediately. The jury deliberated for seven hours and the courtroom was packed as the sentence was handed down. She was convicted on two counts of tampering with court records after registering her two girls as living with Williams Bolar's father when they actually lived with her. The family lived in the housing projects in Akron, Ohio, and the father’s address was in nearby Copley Township. Additionally, Williams-Bolar’s father, Edward L. Williams, was charged with a fourth-degree felony of grand theft, in which he and his daughter are charged with defrauding the school system for two years of educational services for their girls. The court determined that sending their children to the wrong school was worth $30,500 in tuition. - Dr. Boyce Watkins

Williams-Bolar has almost completed her degree in education with the intention of becoming a teacher. With a felony on her record, she would be legally prohibited from pursuing that goal, just adding to the difficulties this single mother who was just trying to keep her children safe.

Change.org has already gathered over 100,000 signatures to petition the parole board to recommend to Governor John Kasich to pardon Kelley Williams-Bolar. Kasich is probably unlikely to be swayed by the petition directly, but may defer to the recommendations of the parole board. Williams-Bolar's attorneys are prepping an appeal as well.

Will you please sign the petition to show your support of Kelley Williams-Bolar?