Advocacy Angle: The Road to Advocacy
By Barbara Hobrock
Volunteering in our communities helps fulfill our civic duty, above and beyond our expected civic duties of paying taxes, obeying laws, jury duty, and voting. There are many ways to volunteer time and talents, such as being a member of a local non-profit organization, being an active member in a church, and of course, serving on your local school board. Volunteering creates an avenue for passions to be developed, relationships to be formed, and voices to be heard. It is within this role that ideas and experiences can turn into advocacy and inspire change for the greater good.
My personal journey to advocacy is only one example of how a passion can grow in unexpected ways.
Being a stay-at-home mom, I looked for volunteer opportunities in my community once my daughters were in school full-time. Naturally, the school seemed to be a great fit. I could volunteer while my girls were in school so there wouldn’t be a need for a sitter, I could strengthen relationships with people at the school to become a better parent supporting my children at home, and we all know schools need help and do not have the budget to hire people. Whether I had 30 minutes or a whole day, I was fortunate to have the ability to put my time and talents into my local school district and help make things better.
I decided to take my volunteering to the next level and became an office manager for an alternative school, which was an eye-opener. Working with the students that needed the most support every day made me a better parent and a more empathetic person. Hearing their stories, listening to what they really need, and helping to fill that void opened my eyes to the reality of what students deal with every day.
Next, I moved on to be an administrative assistant at an elementary school. There I learned that relationship building is of the utmost importance, not only with not only students but also staff and parents. The more you know, the more you can help. It was there that I met the little girl – I will call her “Missy” -- who changed my life. Missy and I established a morning routine where she came into my office and decompressed from the stresses of the night before, so she could go to class and learn. Without enough school counselors to go around, I helped as much as possible until one was available. We got good at talking about things, getting to know each other, and working on our coping mechanisms. Missy inspired me to run for my local school board to become a stronger advocate for students like her. I was elected in 2017 and it was then that my thirst for advocacy was born.
While serving on my local school board, I attended the Joint Annual Conference (JAC) as our delegate. After reviewing the proposed position statements with my board for the Delegate Assembly, I knew the direction my board wanted to advocate for and represented accordingly. It was exciting to represent our board and our students in a room with over 450 other school board members to vote on what direction IASB will take in the upcoming legislative session.
During my tenure serving on the school board, I needed to learn more, so I began to work for the State Board of Education. Several of my co-workers there also served on school boards and it was great to learn from their experiences in their communities. I oversaw task forces where school board members served as appointed members, and I watched advocacy in action. The words and actions were inspiring and furthered my passion to advocate for those that cannot advocate for themselves. I watched school board members lead while keeping students as their constant lens through which to view every decision. Their input mattered and changed the scope of education in many ways. It takes bravery and courage to speak up in a room full of experts and advocate for children. This bravery inspired me further. I needed to do more.
In January, I began the latest stage of my advocacy journey when I became Director of Governmental Relations for the Illinois Association of School Boards. Being able to view legislation through the eyes of a former school board member, while keeping students at the forefront of each decision, is advocacy in action. Being able to speak on their behalf is an honor and learning from those I am lucky enough to work with is a blessing. During the past legislative session, I was able to testify on a bill related to school mapping, due to an experience I had while serving on my local school board. I was also able to speak at a press conference on the same topic. I would not have been able to be an advocate at this level without having served my community as a school board member.
Hopefully, you have seen IASB’s Calls to Action, which alert members to take action on particular bills that have been filed. In the last legislative session, IASB sent several Calls to Action asking our members to file witness slips. Prior to each bill being heard in committee, the witness slips are read by the committee chair, and the overall number of slips matters. Filling out a witness slip is easy and takes only a few minutes from your phone or computer – yet it is powerful advocacy in action.
Advocacy can begin in the most unexpected places. Missy brought out the advocate in me and gave me the courage to speak not only for her, but also for other students that need our help. As a school board member, there are many ways to further your advocacy. From filing a witness slip, to speaking to your legislators, to testifying in committee, you too can expand your voice and deepen your impact.
From a retired school board member to current school board members, thank you for volunteering your time to serve on your local school board and I ask you, who is your Missy? How can you further your road to advocacy? The IASB Advocacy Ambassador Program is a grassroots program designed to build relationships between school board members and state and federal legislators. Advocacy Ambassadors help IASB meet its advocacy goals by sharing personal stories and expertise on policies related to education. No experience is necessary to become an Advocacy Ambassador – all you need is your voice, your passion, and a commitment to making a difference.
Become an Advocacy Ambassador today! Visit the link below for more information or to reach out to me directly so we can work together on your road to advocacy.