💻 Click Once. Stay Forever.
Input: A desire to make things better for all students
Output: Stronger systems, empowered communities, and a whole lot of “Wait … I didn’t know I could do that!”
🪞 Step 0: Show Up As You Are
Advocacy in education doesn’t require a poker face—it invites a real one.
This is a space where parents, staff and leaders lead with full hearts, not hidden agendas. Where advocacy even lets leaders and parents laugh.
Because somewhere along the way, we were told that advocacy had to be serious to be effective. But the truth is: When we lead with care, connection, and even joy, we don’t weaken the work. We strengthen it.
Real progress doesn’t come from detachment. It comes from people who care enough to show up as themselves—fully, imperfectly and together.
🔁 Step 1: Join the Room
→ Sign up for your school’s PTA.
→ Meet people, hear what’s really going on, and start collecting acronyms like they’re baseball cards.
🎉 Outcome: You’re in the loop. You belong here.
⚡ Step 2: Try On Leadership (If You Want)
→ Feeling ready? Say yes to serving as Advocacy Chair or VP of Advocacy.
→ Prefer to cheer from the sidelines with snacks? You’re still part of the mission.
🎉 Outcome: Whether you lead or support, you strengthen the work.
🧠 Step 3: Learn How It All Works
→ Explore district policies, board bylaws and key decision-making tools.
→ You don’t need to know everything—just enough to ask thoughtful questions.
🎉 Outcome: You gain clarity, and clarity becomes confidence.
💬 Step 4: Find Your People
→ Attend a PTA convention or local training.
→ Connect with others who care deeply, and come prepared with pens, plans and purpose.
🎉 Outcome: Ideas, support and community—activated.
🗳️ Step 5: Vote on What Matters
→ Take part in the Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly.
→ Help shape shared priorities for students across Washington.
🎉 Outcome: Your voice helps guide advocacy that’s inclusive, informed and forward-thinking.
🌱 Step 6: Join a Committee (Or Start One!)
→ Diversity, equity & inclusion; student wellness; sustainability; family engagement—find your focus!
→ You don’t need a title to make a difference—just heart and consistency.
🎉 Outcome: You help shape conversations that lead to meaningful improvements.
📍 Step 7: Stay Local. Stay Curious.
→ Tune into school board meetings (snacks always help).
→ Even a line about playground mulch reflects broader values—access, safety, inclusion.
🎉 Outcome: You stay informed and connected to what impacts students most.
☕ Step 8: Build Bridges
→ Reach out to school leaders, city partners or board members.
→ These aren’t confrontations; they’re collaborations.
🎉 Outcome: Respect, trust and shared goals lead the way.
💸 Step 9: Support Student-Focused Funding
→ Help with levy and bond campaigns that directly impact learning and well-being.
→ Share why investing in students is a community-wide win.
🎉 Outcome: Resources reach classrooms. Support reaches students.
🏛️ Step 10: Step Into State-Level Conversations
→ Attend WSPTA Focus Day in Olympia.
→ Bring your perspective, your lived experience, and (of course) snacks.
🎉 Outcome: Local voices inform state decisions. Representation gets real.
📜 Step 11: Learn the Language, Speak Human
→ Acronyms such as OSPI, WSSDA and HB1234 sound complex—but you’ve got this!
→ You don’t need to sound official, you just need to speak with purpose.
🎉 Outcome: You become the bridge between “What does that even mean?” and “Let’s do something about it.”
🎤 Step 12: Speak Up, Kindly and Clearly
→ Join town halls. Share your truth. Ask the question others are thinking.
→ Always advocate with, not just for.
🎉 Outcome: You become part of a culture of listening, learning and leading.
🧳 Step 13: Attend Legislative Conference (LegCon)
→ Deepen your advocacy skills, connect with fellow changemakers, and refill your cup.
→ Leave knowing more, feeling stronger, and ready to return with intention.
🎉 Outcome: Your voice is clearer. Your impact grows. Your why gets louder.
✅ Loop It Back
While (Education_Equity != Fully_Realized):
Keep_Advocating()
KeepListening()
KeepShowingUp()
💡 Because advocacy isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about showing up with heart, facts and an open hand.
Some days it’s decoding school budgets.
Some days it’s handing out flyers.
Some days it’s just bringing snacks and showing you care.
But every action—quiet or loud—moves us forward.
Final_Goal = School_System_Where(All == ALL)
🧠💻 Crafted with heart, systematic thinking, and a passion for making a difference by LWPTSA Council Co-VP of Advocacy Zahra Eslami, a computer science professional who accidentally opened the “Advocacy.exe” file around 1.5 years ago and never hit “close.” With her term ending soon, she continues to run on purpose, coffee and community. Zahra’s story is proof that when tech meets humanity, you get formulas, feelings and the occasional tear-stained spreadsheet.
🚨 PSA for the Curious, the Busy, and the “I’m-Just-Dipping-My-Toe” Crowd:
🌟 You don’t have to do everything.
But starting with one step? That opens everything.
📅 Don’t miss the final two sessions of LWPTSA Council’s “Advocacy Skills in the Education System” this April & May!
→ Learn how school systems really work.
→ Discover how to advocate clearly, kindly and confidently.
→ Join others who believe every student deserves to be seen, heard and supported.
✨ No experience needed. Just care, curiosity and a phone with 30% battery left.