How to Talk the Talk

Shared responsibility? Defined contribution? COLA? 401A? What does all of this mean for Kentucky Teachers and their retirement system? Right now it means lots of confusion, doubt, and uncertainty. Answers are simple — have a discussion with your legislator to share your concerns and insights and find out what’s really happening and what we, as educators, can do to affect the outcome.

Before the conversation can take place some guidelines should be considered. We are on a short timeline as the 2018 General Assembly has been called into session and work is happening as we speak. Amy Bolar, a Hope Street Group Kentucky Fellow, had a very  insightful conversation with a Kentucky Legislator due to her preparedness and thoughtful approach.

The first thing that needs to happen is to personally contact your legislator. It is important that your contact, whether it be through an email, text, or social media, be personal. Canned, copy/paste/forward style emails do not get the attention they deserve because they do not show sincerity. By speaking from the heart and showing true concern, it comes across in initial contacts. If you call your legislator and leave a message, it must also be personal. They get hundreds of calls each day. Yours needs to stand out above the rest to garner their interest.

Secondly, request a meeting – a real, sit-down meeting to discuss items of interest. So much gets lost in translation when trying to communicate about items that we are passionate about. When we use email, text, or social media, tone doesn’t always come through. Face-to-face communication is so much better. Make an appointment and be prepared. Talk with your professional learning network and do some research about what is important to the area. Gather that information and share it with your legislator prior to your meeting so they can be prepared. Surprises often lead to frustration in settings like this. By sharing your questions and thoughts beforehand, your legislator can do any needed research and be prepared to discuss your concerns.

During the meeting, be open-minded. There may have been prior situations that you and your legislator have not agreed, but this is not the time to discuss the past. We must look to the future and find a way for all of us to work toward the same goal – funding of our pension to ensure a healthy retirement system for our educators. Take notes to reflect upon and share with your network. Conversations can take different directions so it’s important to stay focused, listen, and find out how we as constituents can positively affect the legislation in Frankfort. Be respectful. The old adage that you get more flies with honey than you do vinegar certainly applies in this situation. All legislators are feeling the pressure from their constituents right now, and we need our voices to be heard. If all the legislators hear is negativity, they are more likely to tune us out and not hear what we are trying to say. By turning our thoughts into positive statements and positive questioning, they are more likely to try to put themselves in our shoes and figure out how to walk a mile with us.

Once the meeting has concluded, it is important to share your information with your professional learning network. Share with them what you learned, but also share with them how to personally contact their legislators and how to get the same amount of attention and concern from their legislator that you received. WIth crucial decisions being made about pensions, educational funding, tax credits for private schools, etc., it is imperative that teacher voices be heard by those making the decisions that will affect every teacher and student in Kentucky. Professional learning networks is a great place to share this information. Take back all that you learn to your PLN, so they can take the information and share it with other stakeholders.

As someone currently running for office, I want my constituents to feel comfortable when contacting me.  They need to know that they have my attention and that I am concerned. By being prepared, respectful, and honest, I will see a common goal for our community. It works the same at every level.  Two-way communication is imperative in any setting, but especially so when budget cuts are wearing down both sides. We are all focused on the same goal – a great education for our most precious gift, our students. In order for that to be obtained, we must find a way to solidify our retirement system to not only keep the great teachers we now have in Kentucky, but also how to attract new teachers into the system. Let’s go talk the talk and find a way to move forward – together.

Article submitted by: Kelly Melton, KY Hope Street Fellow, Educator from Greenville, KY 

Kelly has spent her 22 year career in the Muhlenberg County School District working in the elementary, middle, and high school settings. She primarily taught math in the middle grades until moving into the curriculum specialist role and is currently employed at The Renaissance Center. Kelly has served in many leadership positions and was honored to be one of the 2014 Ashland Teacher Achievement Award Winners for Kentucky Teacher of the Year. Kelly earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s from WKU, Rank I from University of the Cumberlands as Supervisor of Instruction, and a 2nd Master’s in School Administration from MSU.