Go GETM!

Glenda Dashiell, Columbia SDEdri Geiger, Vancouver SDTricia Lubach, Quincy SD

Michael Kelly, Centralia SD

Legislative Advocacy: Have No Fear!

This is not a test!

Do a quick check-up to see if you have the fundamentals to

successfully engage at both state and federal levels.

What is your Advocacy Status?

How did you do?

Are you surprised?

What is your Advocacy Status?

What is your Advocacy IQ?

• As a school board• As a director• As WSSDA member

Effective advocacy work is extremely important

What gaps did you identify?

The importance of legislative advocacy

It’s all about relationships

The way you influence people is by building relationships with them Takes time Requires persistence

Building Relationships

Learn about your legislators Most effective means of communication What information is most useful to them What their interests are

Building Relationships

Learn about your legislators Their personal lives/family Their professional lives

Political views Committee assignments

Learn about your legislatorsMost effective means of communicationWhat information is most useful to themWhat their interests are

Building Relationships

“Every legislator is different, but they all go back to the

people they represent and have to live with the laws they

create.” Megan Walsh, Legislative Assistant for 25 years

Building Relationships

Become an “Education Expert” - their go-to person to contact

when they need information about an education issue

Building Relationships

Make yourself memorable-Do some homework about legislators-Find something you have in common-Wear a name tag & give them your

card-Remind them of your last visit

Building Relationships

Building Relationships

Getting started: Get involved at local level, work your way

up Bill yourself as Elected Official

representing school district constituents School directors often seen more as school

volunteers than elected officials, but many have more power than most local mayors & city councils

Building Relationships

It’s not as hard as it sounds Take it slowly, building relationships over

time Don’t force it You don’t have to know everything Short and sweet wins the race

Know the hierarchyLegislators will always

prioritize their constituents first, so start with your

own legislators

Building Relationships

Building Relationships

Make your efforts year-round Invite legislators to your district Visit them in Olympia Communicate with them regularly, not just

when you need something Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Building Relationships

Work with WSSDA’s experts Marie Sullivan is WSSDA’s Director of

Governmental Relations Read her legislative updates during session Get information from her about legislation & legislators Attend Legislative Boot Camps and other trainings

You are an elected official just like the legislators and the governor

You represent the same constituents

Have no fear!

“But I’m not a politician!”

Remember who your constituents are…

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Education supporters: Are varied Can hold different perspectives May have competing interests

Education competes for resources

…even after McCleary

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

All decisions are political

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Good laws take time

Easier to kill a bill than pass one

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

An opponent today may be a friend tomorrow

Don’t burn bridges

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Quality NOT quantity matters

Core Principals of Effective Advocacy

Be a problem solver: provide solutions

Become an expert to your legislators

Find out how they receive & use info

Provide info in their preferred format

Resources

Review Legislator fact sheet pg. 9-11

Goal: Get to know as much as possible about each legislator

Plan for Effective Advocacy

How will I bring this information back to my board?

What are some easy ways we can start an advocacy program or kick ours up a notch?

What are our biggest goals in this area?

What is my role?

Plan for Effective Advocacy

Short-term (year) & long-term planGoalsAction stepsBenchmarksSelf-evaluationTimelinesIdentify opportunities for board to do

work together

Where can I get more information?

Questions & Answers

Legislative Advocacy