2004 CSTP Advocacy and Media Training
at Wenatchee, Washington, August 10 -12, 2004

In August 2004, 20 teachers from school districts across Washington State came together to learn skills for delivering clear, meaningful messages to the media and the legislature about important issues in education.

With the help of the workshop facilitators, participants quickly learned that talking to each other is very different from talking to people outside the world of education. Like insiders everywhere, educators have a vocabulary rich with jargon and acronyms that they use when speaking to each other. To people outside the profession, however, terms like "assessment" and "rubrics," "EALRs" and "OSPI" may have little or no meaning. The effect of jargon-laden messages can range from meaningless to misleading.

Struggling to keep their messages clear, concise, and simple, participants had the opportunity to be interviewed by real media professionals, including Mary Kay Clunies Ross of the mayor's office in Seattle, a former newspaper reporter, and Lee Keller, who has experience in both radio and TV. Each participant presented a two-minute speech appropriate for presentation to a school board or community audience. With the help of state Representative Kathy Haigh, teachers learned about how bills are presented to the legislature and practiced testifying to a mock legislative committee.

As a result of this workshop, teachers from communities throughout the state were empowered to speak up and speak out, helping policy makers and the public better understand about issues concerning education.

View photos of the workshop