MAKING MEETINGS MEANINGFUL PERSONALIZING YOUR ADVOCACY MESSAGE Dr

MAKING MEETINGS MEANINGFUL “PERSONALIZING YOUR ADVOCACY MESSAGE” Dr. Susan Pecinovsky Dr. Pam Vogel

Outcomes for the Day • Increase the comfort level for us to contact and communicate with legislators • Learn how to establish the message to share on the “Hill” • Develop a deeper understanding of the importance of advocating for what we believe needs to happen to improve education for ALL students

Making Meetings Meaningful ØMeeting Preparation Ø Support for Meeting Ø Materials You will be ready for your On-the-Hill meetings!

Making Meetings Meaningful “On the Hill” ØIt’s just a conversation ØYou are the education expert! ØBusiness cards ØComfortable shoes ØBuilding security

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalizing your message: ØPrioritize your issues ØProvide local context and connection ØUse Iowa ASCD resources ØPersonalize, practice, and perfect!

Making Meetings Meaningful Iowa ASCD Legislative Agenda Foundation for Iowa ASCD’s Iowa policy asks! Three Priority Issues Recommendations: Specific to each priority!

Making Meetings Meaningful Leave with Them! D C S A a w o I a e d h n t e e g v A a Le lative s i ! g e m L e h t h wit ct a t n o c r ou y e r a h S d n! ren o i t a a m r a r info d e t n a age l e ot the n a ing e t i Wr phasiz em r ask! you

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize! Practice! Perfect! Educator Advocates Message Development Educator Advocates Message

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 1 -Issue: Select one of the 3 priorities Step 2 -Focus: Select one or two recommendations.

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 3 -Importance: Think of a compelling story that supports the recommendation. Step 4 -Facts: Identify facts, evidence, or research that supports the recommendation. Step 5 -Ask: Select relevant policy asks.

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message! Step 1 - Issue: Select one of the 3 priorities on the Legislative Agenda! • Relentless Focus on Learning • Great Teachers and Leaders of Learning • Spirit of Innovation in Success of Each and Every Child

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Example: Use the Educator Advocates Message Development worksheet Issue: Select one priority from Iowa ASCD’s Legislative Agenda to address • Relentless Focus on Learning • Great Teachers and Leaders of Learning • Spirit of Innovation Resulting in Success of Each and Every Child

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 2: Select one or two of the asks from the Legislative Agenda

Make Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 3 -Importance: Think of an story/example that supports the recommendation. üIs there a single iconic example üAffect on your audience üWhat problem are you solving?

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 4 Facts: Identify facts, evidence, or research that supports the recommendation. • Surveys • Annual reports • Funding info • Student data

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Step 5 What is your ask? What action do you want them to take?

Making Meetings Meaningful Personalize Your Message Using your notes, transfer your information onto your Educator Advocates Message handout.

Making Meetings Meaningful Practice Your Delivery üRemember simplicity üFind the drama in your story üDeliver authenticity

Making Meetings Meaningful Deliver Your Message üDissolve barriers üTransfer emotion

Making Meetings Meaningful Practice and Perfect Your Message Messaging Checklist to provide feedback. q Is the topic/issue clearly stated? q Does the story relate to the recommendations? q Is the example understandable, compelling, succinct?

Making Meetings Meaningful Practice and Perfect Your Message Messaging Checklist to provide feedback. q Do facts relate to the recommendations? q Do facts support the ask? q Is the message simple, clear, and avoid “eduspeak” or acronyms?

Making Meetings Meaningful Practice and Perfect Your Message Delivery Checklist to provide feedback. q Message simply stated? q Drama in your story? q Message delivered with authenticity? q Barriers dissolved? q Confidence in the delivery?

Making Meetings Meaningful Perfect Your Message As you listened, did you have any questions about their example, facts, and “the ask”? Can you anticipate difficult questions or issues that may arise? How would you address them?

Making Meetings Meaningful Taking Our Stories to the Hill Advocating for Learning • Today’s schedule “On the Hill” • Transportation logistics • Security tips • Debriefing • Other

Making Meetings Meaningful Any questions or concerns? We will soon be on our way!