Opinion
Teaching Profession Opinion

Advice for Teachers on Talking to Policymakers

June 18, 2013 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Sandy Merz

I’m a teacher-leader. I think teachers, the membrane through which politics become practice, should influence policy. At the Arizona Stories from School Blog, I wrote a series on teachers who became policymakers (part 1, 2, and 3). As a member of the Arizona TeacherSolutions team, I’ve helped facilitate at the Arizona K12 Center’s Leadership Institute.

But I’m a fake. Other than one presentation to my school board, I’ve never spoken to policymakers beyond my school site. It’s time to weigh in on an issue that enhances or hinders learning in my classroom. But I need to learn how to access policymakers and how to be heard.

To begin, I called the local offices of Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Congressman Ron Barber, who was elected to the seat held by Gabrielle Giffords. I asked, “Among all the calls and letters that [the Senator or Congressman] receives, what do the ones that stay in his mind have in common?

They didn’t answer that question but offered great advice on access. Congressman Barber’s staffer told me I could attend a “Congress on the Corner” event and have a five minute meeting with the congressman. He said other states had similar events.

Senator McCain’s office has an outreach coordinator with whom citizen groups can meet. Groups may range in size from 10 to 100. The staffer said to put the group’s concerns in writing, and that an appropriate staff member would follow up and schedule a meeting.

Next, I talked with Kristie Martorelli, the 2012 Arizona State Teacher of the Year. Kristie had specific advice for talking with policymakers. First, she said, remember, “No one got into politics to do what’s bad for kids.” Try to start on the same page; for example, if you disagree with the politician’s stand, acknowledge the intent.

Be ready, be concise, and have a hook. Completely know and understand the issue, she advised. Politics are adversarial by nature, and policymakers are prepared to defend their stands and look for weaknesses in opponents’ arguments.

“Avoid starting with money or unions,” Kristie cautioned. And don’t go negative. Show passion but limit emotion, and keep in mind that statistics and data can carry the day. But making it personal with a story about a specific child can be powerful.

Regarding access, Kristie suggested talking to people your policymaker listens to. Consider, for example, meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, business associations, or active nonprofits. Attend conferences, even those unrelated to education, with the intent of making connections and finding allies.

Kristie addded you can learn a lot by attending meetings of your state’s Education Commission or school board. Some states and districts stream the meetings live. At a minimum, find the agendas, notes, or minutes of meetings. Bottom line: Know what policymakers are doing and saying to leverage what you do and say.

I’m pumped and have an issue. It’s time.

August (Sandy) Merz III, a National Board-certified teacher, teaches engineering and algebra and sponsors MESA at Safford K-8 International Baccalaureate Candidate School in Tucson, Ariz.

Related Tags:

The opinions expressed in Teaching Ahead: A Roundtable are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Pave the Path to Excellence in Math
Empower your students' math journey with Sue O'Connell, author of “Math in Practice” and “Navigating Numeracy.”
Content provided by hand2mind
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Recruitment & Retention Webinar
Combatting Teacher Shortages: Strategies for Classroom Balance and Learning Success
Learn from leaders in education as they share insights and strategies to support teachers and students.
Content provided by DreamBox Learning
Classroom Technology K-12 Essentials Forum Reading Instruction and AI: New Strategies for the Big Education Challenges of Our Time
Join the conversation as experts in the field explore these instructional pain points and offer game-changing guidance for K-12 leaders and educators.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession Teachers Work 50-Plus Hours a Week—And Other Findings From a New Survey on Teacher Pay
Planning, preparation, and other duties stretch teachers' working hours long past what's in their contracts.
5 min read
Elementary teacher, working at her desk in an empty classroom.
martinedoucet/E+
Teaching Profession From Our Research Center How Many Teachers Work in Their Hometown? Here's the Latest Data
New survey data shows that many teachers stay close to home, but do they want to?
1 min read
Illustration of a 3D map with arrows going all over the states.
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession In Their Own Words 'I Was Not Done': How Politics Drove This Teacher of the Year Out of the Classroom
Karen Lauritzen was accused of being a pro-LGBTQ+ activist. The consequences derailed her career.
6 min read
Karen Lauritzen stands for a portrait on the Millikin University Campus in Decatur, Ill., on August 30, 2023. Idaho’s Teacher of the Year moved to Illinois for a new job due to right-wing harassment over her support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter.
Karen Lauritzen stands for a portrait on the Millikin University Campus in Decatur, Ill., on August 30, 2023. Laurizen, Idaho’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, moved to Illinois for a new job due to harassment over her support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter.
Neeta R. Satam for Education Week
Teaching Profession Reported Essay Public Schools Rely on Underpaid Female Labor. It’s Not Sustainable
Women now have more career options. Is that why they are leaving the teaching profession?
9 min read
Illustration of contemporary teacher looking at a line-up of mostly female teachers through the history of public education in the United States.
Traci Debarko for Education Week