Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/610158
18 ADVOCATE | WINTER 2015/16 The Take Your Legislator to School program is an annual collaborative initiative lasting the entire month of September. Teachers, support staff, and administrators invite state legislators to spend a full day at their school to facilitate meaningful conversation between policy makers and educators, and give state legislators an intimate look at the day-to- day realities of public schools in Arizona. This initiative is spearheaded by the Arizona Educational Foundation and supported by three local Arizona partners: Arizona Education Association, Rodel Foundation of Arizona, and the Arizona K12 Center. Visits typically include the following events: • Meet-and-Greet • Student-led school tour • Observation of a lesson • Legislator teaches a lesson (history or civics) • Lunch • Visits to other classrooms • Q&A session with chosen students and preselected questions • Conclude the day with positive refl ections and next steps For more information on this program, visit azedfoundation.org/programs/take- your-legislator-to-school. Around AEA Educators Take Legislators to School Representatives Lela Alston and Ceci Velasquez visited Maryvale High School in Phoenix. Phoenix Union CTA and CEA hosted the visit, which included lunch and a tour of the school and cafeteria. Thanks to Carrie Deahl for setting it up and to Juan Chavez for the great lunch and running a great crew. Senator Sylvia Allen visited Flagstaff EA member Jeffery Taylor's AP science classroom. After their lesson, she spent an additional hour to discuss issues related to education across the state and the specifi c needs of Flagstaff Unifi ed School District and Flagstaff High School. AEA member and Representative Chris Ackerley visited Sunnyside EA member Jennifer Valentine's S.U.N. program students at Gallego Primary Fine Arts Elementary School in Sunnyside Unifi ed School District. Second-grade teacher and Miami Area EA member, Allison Orton invited Senator Barbara McGuire to visit the fi rst and second grade classrooms at Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School in Miami Unifi ed School District. Senator McGuire's two hours with students wasn't the end of her time at the school-- she also visited with some second grade teachers during their prep time to discuss education issues that they are facing on the state and local level. Representative Jay Lawrence joined Scottsdale EA member Catherine Skinner's classroom at Redfi eld Elementary School SUSD and had a packed day with the staff and students. He attended the ROCKSTAR assembly and then toured the Panda (autism) and SHINE (medically fragile) classrooms.