The following excerpt, from CSBA’s GAMUT Board Policy 9000, is probably found in some form or another in all of your board policies: “Provide community leadership on educational issues and advocate on behalf of students and public education at the local, state and federal levels.” Maximizing the potential impact of your position as a board member requires you to advocate on behalf of all the students you represent — this is true within your counties, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.
So, what are the first steps in advocacy? Be the best informed board member you can be by attending the CCBE Annual Conference held each year in September and the 2018 CSBA Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in San Francisco. Whether you are a new or seasoned board member, ongoing training is essential. The first step in being an advocate is being current on the ever-changing landscape that is public education.