Advocacy 101

1
Advocacy 101

• How to Advocate on Behalf of Your District
• TASB Governmental Relations
• TASA/TASB Convention
• October 2009

2
Goals

• To help school board members learn
• What is happening during the interim
• How to stay active during the interim
• Which advocacy activities other trustees have
  tried and found successful
• Hot issues to discuss with legislators and others

3
What is going on during the interim?

• Legislative activities
• Agency activities
• Federal activities
• Media activities

4
What is working for other trustees?

• Houston-Area Lunch Group
• Sarah Winkler, TASB President-Elect, Alief ISD
  Board President, sarah.winkler_at_aliefisd.net
• Board members and others hold regular lunch
  meetings to discuss education issues
• Local legislators are invited to participate
• Legislative updates and action alerts are
  distributed to members during session

5
What is working for other trustees?

• Williamson County Ring Districts
• Sherry Johnson, Round Rock ISD Board Member,
  sjohnson_at_ymcawilliamsonco.org
• School representatives from area schools work
  collaboratively to achieve advocacy goals
• Members developed area advocacy agenda
• Members approach legislators as a unified front

6
What is working for other trustees?

• Adopt a Legislator Program
• Karen Ellis, Richardson ISD Board Treasurer,
  karenkellis_at_sbcglobal.net
• Board members each select a policymaker with whom
  to build a relationship
• Board members provide local information to
  policymakers
• Board members continue to develop relationship
  during and after legislative session

7
What is working for other trustees?

• Bexar County School Board Association
• Gary Inmon, TASB Vice-President,
  Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD Board Member,
  garyinmon_at_yahoo.com
• Area districts coordinate certain media efforts
• Members participate in editorial board meetings
  and other media events
• Members develop similar messages

8
What is working for other trustees?

• Legislative Scorecard Plainview ISD
• Wes Naron, TASB Board Director, Plainview ISD
  Board Vice-President, wesnaron_at_gmail.com
• Board works with legislators to identify regional
  priorities
• Town hall meetings including educators,
  legislators and the community
• Community hold legislators accountable for
  educational priorites

9
What should I be doing now?

• Build relationships with legislators and
  candidates
• Explain local impact of legislation to community,
  policymakers and media
• Write letters to the editor and guest columns

10
Letter to the Editor
11
What should I be talking about?

• School start date
• Grading policy
• School finance

12
Thank You