Tips On Telephoning Your Elected Representatives
To find your senators' and representative's phone numbers,
you may use the following link to Washington State legislators:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx.
Remember that if you contact them via telephone that
calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member
of the legislature. Ask to speak with the aide who handles
the educational issues.
Tips On Writing Policy makers
The letter is the most popular choice of communication
with a legislative office. If you decide to write a
letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve
the effectiveness of the letter:
1. Your purpose for writing should be stated
in the first paragraph of the letter. Specifically
you are asking to either meet with the legislator,
invite them to coffee, or invite him/her to
visit your classroom. If you LIVE in the same
district as you teach then be sure to include
that information. If you do not live in the
same district as you teach then also let the
staffer know this.
2. Be courteous, to the point, and include key
information, using the fact that you are a National
Board Certified teacher. Explain that as a NBCT
you want to speak, meet with, etc the policymaker
to give them first hand knowledge of what is
going on in public education.
3. Keep the letter to one page. Be sure and
let them know how you want to be contacted in
return: phone number, mailing address, email
address or other.
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Click here
to view a sample letter to a policy maker.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a State Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear Senator:
To a State Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear Representative:
Checklist:
Include your local address on the letter.
Limit the letter to one page.
Type the letter or write neatly.
Type/print your name below your signature.
Do not send a photocopy.
Tips On E-mailing Legislators
Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing
letters to legislators. You may find and e-mail your
state senator and legislative representative directly
from this Web site.
Tips on "What to Say" to Legislators
1. Share what IS working in your classroom
2. Remember to stay POSITIVE. We need to be
the ones to propose the solutions NOT the problems
3. Don't forget that those that contact or meet
with legislators are asking for money. Stand
out and talk about those things that impact
student learning.
4. Remember that you are contacting these legislators
because of your expertise in education. As an
NBCT you DO have the leadership credentials
to be listened to.
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Meeting With Policymakers
Talking points from a recent discussion Betsy
Cornell,NBCT from Moses Lake S.D. had with her
Legislative District 13 State Legislator Rep.
Judy Warnick
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Betsy invited Rep. Warnick to her school for
a 45 minute meeting. Below are the talking points
she used at their meeting. You may want to use
her ideas when you set up your meeting.
• One issue: simple majority on school levies
• Rep. Warnick will make decisions based
on
o Conscience, constituents, and party
- in that order
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• Legislators DO read e-mails, listen to
phone messages and use their legislative assistants
(LAs)
• NBCT Network needs to contact their representatives
on key issues
o There will be 3000 bills brought to
be read
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• Also make time to follow up after a vote
• NBCTs offer a "Layer of Expertise"
whom elected officials can contact with educational
questions
o Dedication to profession via process
o Our actions can go on to change and
create educational policy
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NBCTs can have an influence in their district,
their region, and their state.
Click here to
view Policy Makers Connection.
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