Be an advocate

Amid concerns about pay, funding for schools and curriculum changes, teachers can be the best advocates for themselves and their students.

That was one of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick’s messages as she spoke to South Adams teachers, administrators and staff Wednesday at their  development day. 

McCormick, who noted that she spent many summers in Adams County with her grandparents when she was growing up, provided facts, figures and advice during her hour-long presentation. She said it is important for people in the education field to keep an eye on public policy and speak up with their concerns. 

“I’ve learned that we over-assume that we have a voice at the statehouse,” McCormick said. “But we’ve underestimated what we can do with our own voice.” 

She encouraged teachers to reach out to their representatives, hold them responsible and ask them  tough questions. But at the same time, strategy is key. 

“If you are communicating with your legislator, you’ve got to be concise. I mean like three bullet points, done,” McCormick said. “If you write a dissertation they click delete or they don’t understand or they can’t muddle through.”   

It’s also a good idea to inform the school’s administration before bringing up issues with legislators, she said. McCormick provided a hand-out with a list of tips for getting in contact with representatives. 

“Be informed. Be a voice,” she said. 

McCormick was elected to her position in 2016 and announced last fall that she would not be running for a second term. 

Indiana was originally scheduled to abolish the state superintendent office in 2025 and switch to the appointment of a secretary of education by the governor. But the Indiana Senate voted last month to move up the timeline by four years, meaning that whoever is elected governor in 2020 will appoint the secretary of education in 2021. Gov. Eric Holcomb, a proponent of the switch, signed it into law Wednesday. 

It’s vital that constituents press the issue of education in the upcoming election, McCormick said. With the way the system will be set up, the governor will have control over many different school decisions.

“That 2020 governor’s race, if we don’t push and say … ‘who would you select (as secretary)?’ shame on us. That is a huge, huge appointment,” McCormick said. “It’s over half the state budget. If they don’t show their cards, that should be the No. 1 concern.” 

McCormick also praised South Adams for its graduation rates, which are 91.6 percent for white students and 90 percent for Hispanic students. (There weren’t enough students from other ethnicities to collect numbers while maintaining academic privacy.) Indiana’s rates as a whole for 2017-2018 were 89.4 percent for white students and 83.3 percent for Hispanic students. 

“You are all playing a role in this number. You don’t get to 91 percent by accident,” McCormick said. “So all of you in this room should be commended. … Thank you for all the work you’re doing because at the end of the day you all know in this room you’ve got to get kids across the stage.”   

South Adams superintendent Scott Litwiller said he was pleased McCormick accepted his invitation to speak at the school. Many of the teachers and staff were encouraged by the visit, and he was inspired by her message.  

“We tend to feel like it doesn’t really matter if we say anything or not, but I heard her say that individuals do influence legislation and it’s important for our voice to be heard,” Litwiller said. “We need to be advocates for public education, be advocates for our communities, be advocates for our children.”