Why advocate?
Our students deserve the best public schools and teachers! We want great families and teaches to stay in NC public schools. The difference between the 2007-2008 and the 2016-2017 legislative overview is hard to digest.
Engage
Talk to your NCGA representatives: Find your local Representative.
Who represents you?
Build relationships with the Wake legislative members.
Once you have your representatives attention , how do you engage?
The objective is to open a communication channel, not to confront or castigate members. Develop a personal dialog with delegation members where they will be willing to take your call/visit in the future.
Build relationships. Consider using the FORD method
- Family: Tell me about your family.
- Occupation: What do you do for a living?
- Recreation: When you’re not at work on here in the legislature, what do you (and your family) enjoy doing?
- Dreams/Goals: Tell me about your goals for your family, business and as a legislator
Ask open ended questions
- May I ask you a few questions about our public schools?
- Give me five adjectives that in your opinion describe the academic quality of Wake’s schools.
- The efficiency of the district management...
- The level of choice and opportunity provided by the Wake school system.
Ask qualifying questions about their answers
- Tell me more
- And that is a concern to you because…
- Could you rephrase that?
- Give me your impression of the quality of the elementary schools in Wake County.
- What would you say are our three best features?
- What would you say are three areas for improvement?