A call to action!

“If you can’t fly, then run.  If you can’t run, then walk.  If you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means, keep moving.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

I have thought a lot about the legacy and work of Dr. King throughout my life.  I have utilized his quotes and tried to live my life based on many of his principles.  

It also made me reflect on my week.  I hosted our regional meeting for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP).  I serve as the regional coordinator for our region and always enjoy gathering with leaders within our organization.  The meeting was sparsely attended, as everyone is very busy this time of the year.  But the time is valuable, and as the old saying goes, “Iron sharpens iron.”

Those in attendance saw a fantastic presentation from former Kerrville principal Shelby Balser on building culture on her campus.  I walked away with pages of notes.  We also discussed the need for administrators to advocate for the profession, especially as election season is upon us. It spurred me to share the thoughts running through my head as I drove home from the meeting.   

My blog post this week is a call to action.  For those of you in education, I am speaking to you.  

First, we desperately need you to get involved in your state organizations. We can only continue to thrive with the dedication and time of current administrators.  

Our state organization provides outstanding professional development opportunities, a network of colleagues, and, if needed, outstanding legal representation.  While I am a member and believe in my organization, if you are not involved with TASSP, what group are you a member of? If you are not involved in any organization, I would love to talk with you about the benefits of our organization.  During that conversation, I would stress the importance of joining and volunteering.  

Many of us attend our annual summer workshop in Austin each year.  This is a highlight of my leadership team and me.  I have always left our state convention with pages of notes that have made me the leader I am today.  Numerous presenters are still doing the work, which means a lot.  Most presenters are not compensated for their time.  Honestly, the breakout presentations often make or break the conference.  

Have you ever considered presenting at the workshop?  We all have outstanding programs or initiatives in our school that others need to see and hear.  TASSP President Dr. Lee Vi Moses sums it up best: "We think that everyone is doing what we are doing, and it is simply not the case.”  

I have submitted a proposal this summer and encourage you to do the same.  

I became a principal in 2014 and became a much better leader after becoming involved with my state organization. This organization and its network were necessary for me to be the high school principal I am today. 

I give back to the organization because of what they have given me.  

The bottom line is that we need your involvement to continue the great work that our organizations are doing.  

Secondly, the new frontier for administrators is advocacy at the local and state level. Our voice matters, and we have an expertise that elected officials want and need to hear.  

Educators, honestly answer this question.  Did you contact any of your elected officials during our recent legislative session?  

Let that question sit there for a moment.  If yes, thank you!  If not, then why not?

Let me share my story if you were like me and were once intimidated to talk with my elected officials.  I searched for who represented me in a Google search engine and emailed an elected official asking to meet.  I was nervous.  A few days later, we had coffee.   The official asked me as many questions as I asked him. I was heard, and my opinions and thoughts on public education were conveyed.  

The more I thought about my meeting, the more officials I reached out to.  I was empowered.  As a former social studies teacher, the process I taught thousands of students was coming to life.  

Here is what I have learned over the last two years during my advocacy journey. First, representatives work for us.  Second, each elected official took the time to ensure my voice was heard. I met two representatives for coffee on separate occasions; I met one state senator in her office in Austin (ask me about that story -- I almost wrote an Op-Ed piece about it), and I attended numerous forums around our city.  I became knowledgeable about where my elected officials stand on topics that are important to me.  
As many of you know, I am the principal of a large high school in San Antonio.  I equate my job to being the mayor of a small city, and I work 24/7. I have only a little spare time in my schedule.  But this was important to me and my profession, so I found time for it.  

Now, we need help.  

We need to create a culture of voting amongst our profession.  If every educator voted, we would never have to beg for a pay raise or plead to receive the appropriate funding we need.  But the simple fact is we don’t vote.  Since elected officials know we don’t vote consistently, it has allowed some elected officials to ignore our concerns simply.  

With primaries coming up, the call to action is more important than ever.  

We must share information with our colleagues about who represents us, challenge everyone to know where officials stand on important topics, and create a culture of advocacy among administrators.  As leaders, we need to do more. The time is now.  

When you lay your pillow down at night, I want you to think about my call to action.  If you are a principal, this is now our new expectation.  But you do not have to be a principal to advocate.  

How many times have we told students that their voice matters?  Our voice matters, and it is time to make sure it is heard!  This semester is the semester we get involved.  

Tips

Do not use school resources to accomplish any of these tasks.

Do not tell anyone who to vote for.  

Do not offer “jeans passes” for a staff member to vote. (By the way, let them wear jeans any day they want.)

Do not wear campaign buttons while at work.  

You can share information about voter registration and important dates for voting.  

You can share information on how staff members can determine who their elected officials are.

You can encourage people to vote!  

With all of this, you can make a difference!