Advocacy Doesn't Have To Be Scary

is year, more than ever, advocacy is critical to fulfilling the PTA’s mission of making every child’s potential a reality.  We must recognize that many of our families are struggling to ensure their children get a quality education in the current environment.  As PTA leaders, we have an opportunity to address these struggles by advocating for all our students and engaging and empowering our families and our communities to do the same.  
While advocacy can sometimes seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be.   If you have ever addressed a concern with your child’s teacher or your school’s principal, then you have experience with advocacy.  Here are a few specific ways you can be an advocate this year:  

• Work with your school principal to develop a plan to address a need facing your families and involve your school community in the solution.
• Watch a School Board meeting and share important information with your membership.  
• Speak at a School Board meeting or send an email to address a topic important to you.
• Follow your School Board member’s Facebook page and provide productive comments.
• Follow the Virginia PTA’s Facebook page for regular advocacy updates and action items.

As your Advocacy Chair, I am here to support your advocacy efforts. My goal is to provide you with specific and easy action items throughout the year.  I also encourage you to advocate for the specific needs of your school community.  I wish you all a safe and successful school year and look forward to helping you use your voice and your role to bring about positive change throughout the coming year.    Please contact me at advocacy@huntdistrictpta.org if I can be of assistance.  

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