Advocacy

Advocacy is a way educators can initiate a dialogue with policymakers about important educational issues. We often hear educators say, “While I care deeply about education issues, I don’t have anything important to share with policymakers and I don’t know how to advocate.” CSTP begs to differ and we want to dispel that statement!

Educators DO have important things to share with policymakers. Personal stories, experiences and perspectives all have an important place in effectively advocating a message.

Advocacy requires a set of skills that come naturally to some people and may come more uncomfortably to others. Regardless, like any other skill, learning to advocate takes time, preparation and practice—and it is possible!

Here are a few examples of advocacy by Washington educators:

• Kelly Cannard teaches middle school science in Vancouver. She proposed changes to the draft proposal of the Basic Education Finance Task Force, testified to the reasons for those changes—and saw them written into the final report.
• John Hellwich is a professional development coordinator in White River. Since receiving training, John has testified before both the House and Senate Education committees on issues related to teaching quality and certification. 
• Megan Conklin, an instructional coach in North Thurston, met individually with legislators during the session to discuss the importance of supporting beginning teachers.

CSTP assists educators in building their advocacy skills and provides opportunities for them to put those skills to use with policymakers.

• Advocacy Training: CSTP provides several one-day trainings throughout the school year, as well as a three-day intensive training in the summer.
  • June 22nd - 23rd, 2010, Renton -- Write to Advocate: Effective Strategies for Communication with Decision Makers is a two-day workshop designed to increase teacher's knowledge and skills in communicating written messages that attract the attention of decision makers and other audiences about education issues important to them. The deadline to register is Monday, June 7th. Click here to learn more and find out how to apply.
• Legislative Visits: CSTP coordinates educators’ visits with their local elected officials and policymakers' visits to classrooms. 
• Resources: CSTP has several easy-to-use “how-to” guides to assist educators in advocating for causes about which they care deeply.