THE CENTER FOR STRENGTHENING THE TEACHING PROFESSION
"Data can help shine a light on problems, but data alone won't solve them."
Elizabeth City, ASCD; April, 2013
"Data can help shine a light on problems, but data alone won't solve them."
Elizabeth City, ASCD; April, 2013
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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.
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.
Click here to view a sample letter to a policy maker.
To a State Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear Senator:
To a State Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
Dear Representative:
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
o Conscience, constituents, and party - in that order
o There will be 3000 bills brought to be read
o Dedication to profession via process
o Our actions can go on to change and create educational policy
NBCTs can have an influence in their district, their region, and their state.
Click here to view Policy Makers Connection.
What we need from you????
Please keep us informed as to your meetings/school visits/coffee times
etc with your policymakers. We will use that info in our monthly
newsletters which we will post on the CSTP web site. Any thoughts,
positives, and photos would be greatly appreciated. Please send to: network@cstp-wa.org