Trustee Advocates Program Provides In-Depth Training with Legislators

This month, Raise Your Hand Texas welcomed the inaugural cohort of its Trustee Advocates Program to the Texas Capitol for some hands-on advocacy training in preparation for the 88th Texas State Legislature. The Trustee Advocates Program aims to help school board members and superintendents create teams of local public education advocates who are ready to engage in state-level education advocacy by providing expert training, experiential learning, and in-district support.

As part of the fourth session of the program participants spent a day at the Capitol meeting with their respective state representatives and senators, participating in panel discussions on the legislative process, and participating in testimony training, which culminated in a mock committee hearing. 

A group of state representatives with a passion for public education spoke with program participants and provided insight into what resonates with legislators when constituents testify during committee hearings. The representatives made it clear that committee members want to hear from their constituents during hearings and weigh those testimonies carefully when making decisions. 

Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, shared the importance for school leaders to represent their communities in the process, as it can shed light on issues and make legislators more aware of how issues are impacting those affected by policies.

After hearing from a handful of their elected state representatives, the trustees learned important lessons from leaders of various education organizations regarding the ins and outs of testifying in front of legislative committees. Then, trustees and superintendents broke into groups to prepare mock testimony, even going through the process of registering to testify in order to familiarize themselves with all the required steps of providing testimony. The registration process was important to practice because it is a requirement to testify, and creates a permanent record of those wishing to testify, the organization they represent, and the position they take on the bill.

Following the mock hearing, participants conducted advocacy-focused office visits to their respective state senators and representatives.

The Raise Your Hand Texas Trustee Advocates Program consists of six training sessions over 18 months. The initial session was held onsite locally for each participating ISD, and attendance included the full school board and superintendent. Following sessions are held over two days in Austin for the superintendent and up to three (3) school board members. All of the work is issue-based, non-partisan, and held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Participants also receive credit for their hours in training thanks to Raise Your Hand Texas Trustee in Residence Missy Bender’s status as a Texas Education Agency-registered provider of continuing education.

Participants of the Trustee Advocates Program graduate in April 2023 after a self-guided session focused on implementing the strategies and knowledge learned over the course of the program, including meeting with legislators to advocate for their school districts. During the final session in June, each school district will develop its own plan to embed advocacy into their ongoing work.