Educators Who Ran for Office Share Their Lessons Learned

Teachers and other educators ran for office in record numbers this year, aiming to take their activism over pay and funding to the next stage. Education Week invited three of those educators to join us at “2020 Vision,” an event in Washington D.C. focused on K-12 politics and policy beyond the midterms. Reporters Daarel Burnette II and Madeline Will interviewed educators fresh off the campaign trail about what they heard from voters, how they fought to get their message across, and lessons for those who want to follow in their footsteps. Afterwards, they took questions from the audience. Guests include: • R. Travis Brenda, Math Teacher, Rockcastle County High School, Mt. Vernon, Ky., and Candidate for Kentucky’s 71st House District seat • Aimy Steele, Former Principal, Beverly Hills Elementary, Concord, N.C.; and 2018 Candidate for N.C. House District 82 • John Waldron, Social Studies Teacher, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa, Okla., and Candidate for Oklahoma State House This includes a special video appearance by Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year who was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for her home state of Connecticut.