If our elected officials thought (and acted) more like educators, we'd be a lot better off.
Well, why can't they?
The National Education Association's training program, See Educators Run, embodies the belief that one of the most effective ways to promote and protect public education is to encourage educators to run for public office.
The NEA has trained more than 200 members on how to run an effective campaign and win.
If elected, educators would be able to bring their first-hand experience with the needs of public school students to their legislature, city or county council, even the U.S. Congress.
Rep. Amy Perruso (D, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Launani Valley) taught social studies at Mililani High School and served as HSTA's secretary-treasurer from 2015–18 before she was voted into state office. She attended NEA's See Educators Run training in October 2017, as she prepared for the 2018 elections.
"See Educators Run was incredibly powerful because it was the one and only time in my process of preparation that brought together people like myself, i.e. dedicated, professional, committed educators who were choosing to run for public office," Perruso said. "Shared values made our conversations about connecting with and moving our communities really powerful. We were all very much on the same page, and when I was facing the everyday challenges of organizing and campaigning, I thought often of this cadre of teachers—they inspired me!"
The next See Educators Run training will take place Oct. 4–6 in Detroit and will cover:
- The nuts and bolts of running a campaign;
- Tips for recruiting volunteers and running a field operation;
- Communicating effectively with voters; and
- Fundraising basics.
The deadline for HSTA members to apply is Wednesday, July 31, at 2 p.m. HST (8 p.m. ET).