Lobby your legislators in Olympia – or at a town hall meeting this month

These school counselors from Everett Education Association visited legislators in Olympia this week.

Attend a legislative town hall meeting. Here’s a list!

Earlier this week, a trio of school counselors from Everett visited the state Capitol to lobby their legislators about what matters most to them – their students.

“We spent the day in Olympia advocating for our students!” said WEA member Jana Eggers, one of the three counselors. “We talked to legislators about school safety, increasing mental health concerns and the critical importance of school counselors.”  

You, too, can tell your legislators what your students need to be successful, and you don’t have to travel to Olympia. Legislators across the state are having in-person and telephone town hall meetings throughout March. If you attend, be sure to wear red (#RedforEd!).

Here’s a list of legislative town halls in March.

For WEA members, top legislative priorities this year include:

• Restoring levy flexibility so local school districts can meet the unique needs of their students. (email your legislators)
• De-linking testing as a high school graduation requirement.
• School safety -- funding additional counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other education staff associates who work with students.
• Increasing state funding to pay college faculty competitive, professional salaries.

Here is a list of important education bills that remain alive in the Legislature. 

WEA members from Summit UniServ in Pierce County were in Olympia this week talking to their legislators about education issues.

“It was exciting to talk to legislators about school wide issues, to discuss the importance of school counselors and how our caseload numbers greatly impact the work we are able to do, to gain their continued support and to help them have a stronger understanding regarding our to support all students,” said Sarah Williams, another Everett EA member.

Another EEA member and counselor, Jaimie Burton, share this about her experience in Olympia:

“It gave us the chance to share our experiences on important issues such as balanced work load for counselors, the need for increased mental health support for our students and overall ways to continue supporting the growing needs of our kids.

“It was a great day and gave me perspective as well as respect for all that goes on behind the scenes.”