OAESA Passionately Advocates on Behalf of Members at the State and National Levels
Members enjoy many opportunities to stay up-to-date on issues that matter to Ohio administrators, including our weekly Legislative Update emails delivered each Monday! Not a member?
OAESA's Platform & Legislative Positions
Platform
The Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) has developed a comprehensive Platform outlining our positions on a wide variety of issues that are politically relevant to our members. This document serves as our formal guide to members in assisting them with an understanding of these issues, as well as efforts to support or oppose various legislative initiatives that affect the school administrators. Each year, at our Representative Assembly, this Platform is reviewed and revised as necessary to reflect the most current thinking of our members.
Adopted at the Representative Assembly on April 24, 2021
Legislative Positions
OAESA maintains a strong presence in order to advocate on important statewide and national issues of concern for administrators throughout the State of Ohio. OAESA will work closely with the legislatures, the governor's office, state agencies, elected officials and other advocacy organizations on important areas of concern.
The Advocacy Service Team has developed a series of recommended legislative goals for consideration by the members of OAESA at its annual Representative Assembly where the Delegate Assembly will give final approval.
Legislative goals are distributed throughout the organization as well as to other advocacy organizations. Legislative goals deal with all aspects of the organization's mission.
Principals Advocating with Legislators (PAL Program)
As a school administrator, much of your work is directly impacted by the actions of our state and federal legislators.
Given the tremendous impact that legislators have on the job we do, it simply stands to reason that educators need to be very purposeful about building a positive relationship with these influential individuals. By establishing a trusting, collaborative and cohesive relationship with our lawmakers, we stand a far better chance of having our professional perspectives considered when educational issues are being debated at the statehouse.
The purpose of our OAESA Principals Advocating with Legislators (PAL) program is to encourage every school administrator to spend time intentionally cultivating a positive relationship with legislators and policymakers from their area.
Through this purposeful engagement, we believe the voices of our members will be considered by those who are passing the laws that significantly influence our work.
The following PAL Toolkit is intended to provide you with the means for creating an effective, helpful relationship with lawmakers from your area. Please read through the items in this toolkit for suggestions and information; then, begin your journey by hosting a legislator on a visit to your school. Should you have any questions, or additional suggestions that you can offer for our toolkit, please contact the OAESA office at (614) 547-8087or email us at info@oaesa.org.
- Sample Letter of Invitation
- List of ideas to do with legislators
- Sample Thank You letter
- Sample press release
- Social media suggestions
- Tips for hosting a successful visit
Goal
The goal of our PAL program is to have every OAESA member engage with at least one legislator or policymaker in some meaningful way every year. Once you have hosted a legislator visit, or made a personal contact in some other way, please let us know about your experience!
Find My State Legislator
Locate your State Representative or State Senator. Then, click on their name to access their email and phone number. (Note using your school address may yield a different result than using your home address.)
Advocating on Your Behalf
Barbara Shaner
Advocacy Specialist
Send an Email
OAESA is proud to work with Barbara Shaner, Advocacy Specialist, at the state and national level to advocate for the needs of PreK-8 administrators. For questions regarding current legislative issues impacting education or assistance with contacting legislators, email Barbara today.