By Guest Blogger Sarah 

 

The NBCT Policy Symposium is behind us, (whew), but now the real work begins (isn’t that how it always is…just when you think you are done, there is more to do, it is just like my laundry situation).  The Symposium was an opportunity for 100 NBCTs from around Washington to become educated about the policy decisions that will be made regarding how to best implement ESHB 2261.  It was a big, big deal and honestly, it was big, big day. The day before the Symposium, I, along with 20 other NBCT teachers, had a discussion with Governor Gregoire, Governor Wise (former Gov of West Virginia and now chair of National Board) & Superintendent Dorn.  This provided an opportunity to speak to decision makers about the possibility of NBCT’s voices being a part of education reform in Washington State.  Each of these leaders listened closely and respectfully to each of us and challenged us to become leaders beyond our classrooms, our schools and our districts.

 

What really sticks with me is Governor Gregoire saying that Legislators need teacher mentors to educate them about the important issues of education.  What a terrific idea. But honestly, I think a lot about the barriers and not always about the possibilities and I need to get over that.  I think about people’s lives already being full with teaching, parenting, trying to eat right and get enough sleep – being a “Legislative Mentor” is probably the furthest thing from our minds, realistically, but I wonder- would the efforts put in now make a difference down the road?  Would becoming legislatively active and aware and influential, create a school system in Washington state that would ensure our students were prepared for the world they are going to, and maybe even lighten our day to day load by having smart, teacher influenced, educational policy?

Of course, the answer is yes and the reason I am writing this here today.  I love the idea of being the “go to” person for questions about educational policy for my Representatives and Senators.  How cool would this phone call be?

Me: Hello?

 

Representative  X: Hi Sarah, it is Rep. X.  Hey, we are looking at some legislation to change funding/days/allocation for students/teachers/schools…tell me what you think I should do?

 

Me: Well, I think…

 

Like all things, it sure helps to have practitioners’ voices in policy, right?  Think of professional baseball trying to make a decision about rule changes without having the players in on the discussion. – They wouldn’t stand for it, why should we?  We shouldn’t. The time is ripe for us to be at the figurative and literal table.  And yes, this takes time. But I think with this up front work, we will be able to show that our voices are strong, they matter, and in the long run, better educational policy will allow us to get more sleep, eat better and meet the needs of our students more effectively.

 

Which leads me to how the Washington Library Media Association (WLMA) found a way to get on the legislative radar over the 2008 Legislative session.  We had tried for a number of years to become more politically savvy.  Unlike some other teachers that are “tested” and considered to be “core,” we have always had to explain our jobs, advocate for our positions and too often, feel as though we are the first heads on the chopping block.  We knew years ago, that it was “all about relationships” so that is what we worked on.  We visited Legislators on Library Legislative Day and dropped off packets of information demonstrating our worth to student learning, we went to school board meetings to model lessons we did with students and we set up booths at education conferences and events to ply our wares.  We weren’t making the headway we wanted to.  Everyone “loves” a librarian (they are so nice, aren’t they?  They keep the books in such a nice order!) but few were ready to stand up for us and with us.  We needed to get more serious. 

 

To get in the door, we tried two different tacks, and both were very powerful.  One: a couple of us teacher librarian leaders attended the CSTP advocacy training and we launched a full on advocacy effort in our organization based on the learning we did there.  We shared tips for being clear and concise, and “on message” with the media and with school board members.  We gave people “elevators speeches” they could use if they found themselves with decision makers, and urged them to be brave and share them.  We made sure we were all talking the same talk- same language (teacher librarians), same job roles, same vision.  Most of all, we worked to make sure our members were doing effective work with students and staff so that we had something to showcase to people in power.

 

Our second approach involved hiring a lobbyist. I know. This sounds a bit blasphemous, doesn’t it?  Being a teacher activist is a volunteer job, a bit of a martyred position.  One where we stay late to create signs to wave on the street corners,  have coffee klatches with our friends till late in the night, scheming how we will finagle just a little more money from the district for our program, writing grant after grant to try to meet the needs of our students.  We had done all of that and honestly, we were done.  We needed someone that understood the lay of the land in Olympia that knew the paths we needed to take and the people we needed to talk to. Plus, the time was ripe.  Three moms in Spokane had taken up the school library cause because of drastic cuts that had stripped most of Spokane’s elementaries of their certificated staff.  The stars aligned – we had people to speak for us, we had someone who knew where and who to speak to. Our political education sped full speed ahead.

 

We put ourselves on the agenda anywhere someone would take us.  We attended OSPI meetings, legislative hearings, the Joint Basic Education Finance Task Force meetings, wrote to our Legislators and asked our friends to.  We worked to show the reality of the work of the 21^st century teacher librarian who was far more involved in students and teachers lives than just shelving books.  Our lobbyist got us to the right place at the right time, and allowed us to speak. She rarely spoke for us and always asked “tell me what to say to this” and “tell me the best answer to that.”

 

And it worked.  We got a $4 million line item in then 2008 supplemental budget for school library resources and educated our legislators as to what is possible in the school library.

So, lesson of this story?

1.    Teachers can make an impact on legislative decisions.

2.    Legislators want to hear from us because it does help to hear from experts.

3.    Once again, the sad truth is that money can get you in doors.

4.    And while money helps, it isn’t all. Persistence helps.

So, when will you be calling your legislator and offering your services?

 

Sarah is a National Board Certified Teacher and teacher librarian in a south Puget Sound school district. She serves as the chair for the Advocacy Committee of the Washington Library Media Association.