NEA: As secretary of the Cape Henlopen Support Staff Association, you helped increase union membership and lobbied state legislators to pass a house bill that recognizes an ESP with an annual statewide award, the same now garnered by teachers of the year.
TE: This was a milestone for ESPs and a great win for the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA). Many ESPs from aross the state spoke to legislators about the important roles that ESPs play in schools and com- munities. ESPs are often taken for granted. It was time to take a stand.
NEA: What inspired you to organize the DSEA ESP task force?
TE: I got the idea after attending an NEA ESP national conference in 2017. I learned that ESPs in a certain state had been instrumental in pass- ing a bill that opened many doors for ESPs. I wanted to mimic their success.
NEA: What did you do first when you got home?
TE: I wrote an NBI (new business item) and presented it at our DSEA annual assembly later the same year. It passed and we were on our way to forming a task force that would be recognized by DSEA regarding policy and other recommendations.
NEA: What was your objective?
TE: We wanted to build a well-rounded team that could work with legislators, educators, community members and others on policy matters. For example, we wanted to establish policies that designate professional development days for trainings and classes specific to ESP job roles. We wanted to design a pathway to identify education opportunities for ESPs.
There are grants and ways for ESPs to attend higher education classes if they want to pursue an education degree or other degree of their choice.
NEA: What do you say to educa- tors about lobbying legislators, city council, and school board members?
TE: I stress the importantance of one-on-one conversation. Face-to-face interactions make a deep impression on listeners. They are lasting.
Policymakers will value the interaction more if you present yourself to them in person. Letters, email, and phone calls are aslo effective and convenient.
NEA: How can current association leaders groom future leaders?
TE: It is important to encourage fellow union members to get active, speak up, and sign up for leadership positions on committees or as building representatives, for example. Let them know they can make a difference. We are a small local. Funds are limited.
But with help from DSEA and good teamwork, we are influencing educa- tion policy in our district and state.
3 Ways to Lobby Your State Legislator
- Be Informed
Know the issues and your lawmakers. Know where they stand and how the legislative decision-making process works in your state.
For help, register on NEA’s EducationVotes.org and check out the Legislative Action Center at Edadvocacy.nea.org. Use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media to gain insight on where legislators stand on the issues. Your success in navigating the competitive world of policymaking rests equally upon know-how and knowledge.
- Contact Your Lawmaker
A study by the nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation found that 97 percent of congressional staffers agree that in-person visits from constituents influenced their lawmakers most. However, making phone calls, writing letters, and sending emails to legislators is also effective. The study found even these personalized communication methods were more likely to change a member’s mind than a professional lobbyist’s efforts.
- Be Persuasive, Personable, and Patient
Tell your story in a manner that is professional and upbeat, and remain calm. Losing your cool means losing the case!
Once you’ve made your “ask” regarding a speci!c issue, stay in touch. Keep policymakers and their assigned staff representative—if you know who that person is—abreast of the issues that concern you. Political decision making can be lengthy. Don’t get discouraged.
