ATPE News is the official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the largest educator association in Texas. The magazine addresses the most important issues affecting public education in the state. Learn more at ATPE.org.
Issue link: https://atpe.epubxp.com/i/479332
12 | atpe.org atpe news While many organizations hold rallies and schedule Capitol visits while the legislature is in session, high- quality training and the emphasis on ATPE's collaborative, professional philosophy help make ATPE's Lobby Day successful. by Jennifer Canaday, ATPE Governmental Relations Manager Destination: Legislative Success ATPE Brings Advocates for Education to the Capitol Steps What do you get when you send hundreds of enthusiastic ATPE members to the Texas State Capitol? Results! That is the goal behind ATPE's Political Involvement Training and Lobby Day. The two-day event, which took place Feb. 22–23 in Austin, is popular among veteran ATPE members with a history of political involvement, as well as newcomers to the profession who want to learn more about the legislative process and how to become a grassroots advocate. "Lobby Day educates legislators about ATPE and the issues we care about as practitioners," said ATPE President Richard Wiggins. While many organizations hold rallies and schedule Capitol visits while the legislature is in session, Wiggins believes high-quality training and the emphasis on ATPE's collaborative, professional philosophy help make ATPE's Lobby Day successful. "Our members learn how to present our message in a manner that is professional, polite, respectful, and backed by knowledge. Our professional approach is certainly noticed and appreciated by the legislators and staffers with whom I've visited at the Capitol." This year's training event featured an appearance by the Honorable John Dietz, the district judge who has presided over several of the state's high-profle school fnance lawsuits. In addition to learning more about school fnance, Lobby Day attendees heard presentations by ATPE's lobbyists on other hot topics of debate this session, including student testing, funding for educators' health insurance, and privatizing schools. ATPE members also heard inspiring words from Rev. Charles Johnson, a leader in the fght to keep public schools public. Johnson founded the group Pastors for Texas Children, which alongside ATPE, is a member of the anti- voucher Coalition for Public Schools. As a bonus, some Lobby Day attendees watched a screening of The Texas Promise, a new documentary by Academy Award-winning flmmaker Vanessa Roth. ATPE hosted the private screening at Alamo Drafthouse's The Ritz Theater in downtown Austin. The movie about Texas public education documents the aftermath of severe education budget cuts in 2011. Rev. Johnson and Judge Dietz both fgure prominently in the flm. "The movie was a great complement to the presentations on Sunday," said Jason Forbis. "It was interesting to see a moviemaker's perspective of the exact same issues we learned about earlier in the day." Cathy Duvall agreed, saying, "It got us fred up to go to the Capitol on Monday to remind our legislators what's at stake and why they must make public education a priority." Another new element of this year's Lobby Day was the sale of promotional items to beneft ATPE's Political Action Committee (ATPE- PAC). Many attendees purchased souvenirs, commemorative Lobby Day pins, and new shirts embroidered with a special version of the ATPE logo. "Lobby Day is a way for us to highlight the fact that ATPE is your ally and your voice at the Capitol and that our members are a vital part of that effort," said ATPE Executive Director Gary Godsey. "Our lobby team fghts hard for the legislative positions adopted by our membership, but it's also critical for each individual ATPE member to be engaged in the process." Whether you attended Lobby Day or not, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to help ATPE be the ally and voice of public education at the Capitol. Keep up with the latest developments via TeachtheVote.org and social media. Share information with fellow educators about what's happening in Austin and Washington. Build relationships with your legislators, become a trusted resource for them on education topics, and communicate with them regularly, especially during session. Being a grassroots advocate for public education is the best way to ensure that our voice at the Capitol is being heard. your ally. your voice. See photos from Lobby Day on pages 38–39 and in the digital version of this issue at www.atpe.org/en/News/ ATPE-News-Archives .