How Texas teachers can get involved in the 89th Session

Texas teachers need a seat at the table to shape the policies that affect their livelihoods. During the 89th Legislative Session, school funding, standardized testing, class sizes, and teacher benefits should all be discussed by Texas legislators. As the people closest to the issues, teachers are also the people closest to the solution.

“The teacher advocates for the needs of all students in the classroom and the campus.”

Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS).

Educate Yourself

It is increasingly important to stay informed about the issues and people shaping public education policy across Texas. By modeling civic engagement and voting in every election, you prove to the teachers and students around you that anyone can impact the issues that matter to them. 

Knowing “who does what” in education policy is another great way to build foundational knowledge. Raise Your Hand Texas also informs people on current issues in education policy. Our Public Education Candidate Forums feature candidates for Texas House or Senate seats and provide them with a nonpartisan platform to share their stances on education issues. The forums are hosted by our Regional Advocacy Directors, who teachers can also meet with at any time to help take the next steps locally. All of the Public Education Candidate Forums that have been held across the state were recorded, and you can watch the recordings online on our website.  

Stay Engaged

Heading into election season, there are countless ways Texas teachers can engage with their communities and Get Out the Vote. Find people who care about the same issues as you, and build relationships with them. These could be other teachers, advocacy networks, or lawmakers in your region. 

As a teacher, you are already an advocate. You observe the push and pull between what your district provides and what your students need and are often called to stand in the gaps to meet those needs. Texas teachers are the experts regarding what Texas’ 5.5 million students require to build strong futures. 

Shape the discussion around public education by relaying the stories of great things happening in your public schools to those around you. Teachers are the keepers of stories in every community, and these stories drive change. Not everybody is motivated by facts and figures. First-hand stories influence and motivate other people to take action. Your narratives build relationships, and these relationships make changes. 

“We all have opinions, but our stories move us in different ways.”

JoLisa Hoover, Teacher Specialist for Raise Your Hand Texas.

Activate in Your Community 

After November 5, just because general elections have finished and the session has begun in January, it does not mean your advocacy journey is over. Testifying and telling your story during the session is a great way to use your #TeacherVoice to speak directly to lawmakers. 

It can be challenging to find time to come to the Capitol as a Texas teacher, especially during a teacher shortage, but you do not need to be in Austin to be an advocate. You can invite lawmakers to come to your school and speak on the importance of voting and civic engagement, or you can call officials during session. What matters most is activating at key moments and being involved throughout the stages. 

After visiting with her legislator during the 88th Legislative Session, Marisa Bowe, a teacher at Lamar CISD, encouraged other educators: “You have a voice. You have a story. You are relevant. Own it.” 

Being a resource to the people you interact with daily is another way to activate your community. Sharing your knowledge, stories, and research with those around you through conversation or social media can motivate others to take action. Teachers are already advocates for their students at the campus level, and encouraging others to speak up enables change. 

It is crucial to remember that while conditions may change slowly, they still change. Small differences over long periods of time can create a large impact. Nothing is etched in stone, and the measures taken now to support Texas’ public education and teachers will help future generations of leaders. 

Texas teachers have the ability to influence decisions during the 89th Legislative Session from their classroom, the voting booth, their community meeting, online, or at the Capitol. We look forward to meeting you on your advocacy journey, Texas Teachers.

“If society today allows wrongs to go unchallenged, the impression is created that those wrongs have the approval of the majority.”

Barbara Jordan (1936–1996), a Texan lawyer, politician, and professor.

To stay up to date on education news, policy insights, and opportunities to advocate, sign up for our weekly newsletter, Across the Lawn.