How Do You Move the Message?

"Social media is not just about a shift in communication; this is a shift in power," former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi told education leaders at this weekend's Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy. The institute is an opportunity for educators to meet with policymakers, raise awareness about key federal initiatives, and learn strategies for engagement with their local representatives. The event culminated with attendees meeting with their representatives on Capitol Hill today.

From the Occupy movement to increasing state-level flexibility in federal education legislation, the significance of being both local and vocal was a major theme of this year's institute.

"We don't live in a top-down communication world anymore; messages are peer-to-peer," Trippi explained. "Anyone can challenge the thinking at the top." Trippi encouraged educators to use social media to their advantage to build their "army of Davids" and start "handing out slingshots."

Yet, despite grassroots support, it often seems that education policymakers and practitioners speak two different languages. Staffers and educator advocates offered communication strategies for bridging the divide between Capitol Hill and the classroom. For example

• Using anecdotes, especially stories specific to your representative's jurisdiction, to illustrate your goals or agenda.
• Basing your argument in research.
• Identifying what's working well, what you want to change, and where you can compromise.
• Tweaking the rhetoric from "measurement" to "assessment" and from "compliance" to "engagement."
• Knowing your representative's voting record and commending like-minded voting.
• Asking what issues your representative is working on and how you can help.
• Following up with phone calls, e-mails, and supplemental materials.

"There is a firehose of information coming at your representatives; it's up to staffers to get the best to their bosses," advised one staffer. "Build relationships with staffers and be persistent."

And ask your friends to join you, included Trippi. "YOU move the message."

"It's my professional responsibility to get my voice heard in education policy," said Arkansas educator Marsha Jones. Iowan Claire Struck added, "I'm not just an influence peddler; I'm a slingshot peddler."

How do you leverage practitioner influence in education policy?