TEPSA Voting Series: A Principal Makes an Impact

The most frequent question I receive during election season is, "Who should I vote for?" TEPSA, as an organization, is prohibited from officially endorsing candidates. We can, however, provide information on how the candidates have voted in the past. where they stand on the issues, who their donations come from, and what they are quoted. Often, one only needs to look at who is endorsing a candidate to understand how to vote or which candidates need to answer a few questions. For example, the group Empower Texans supports vouchers, school choice, and tax credits to send money to private schools. If a candidate is endorsed by, or receives funds from Empower Texans, you know where they stand regarding public schools. As you will see, one candidate states that he was unaware that this group supports vouchers.

Another way to discover where candidates stand on their support (or non-support) of public education is to ask them. in a previous blog of mine, I gave you some questions to ask any candidate where he/she stands. Principal Stacy Davis recently did just that. She emailed several candidates in her area.

Two candidates answered Stacy's email. One was candidate for the U.S. House, Glen Robertson, who emailed that he is emphatic in his support of public schools, of TRS, and that he is against vouchers and/or tax credits that could drain money from funds available to our public schools.

A candidate for the Texas House, Jim Landtroop, who is listed on the endorsement page of an organization dedicated to bringing about a voucher system in Texas, visited Stacy's school! He emphatically expressed his support of public education. He stated that he didn't realize this organization was in favor of vouchers, but he was not in favor of them. Both of these gentlemen have kids attending public schools...that's an answer I like!

Now, whether these statements are accurate or not, Stacy has developed a working relationship with two potential members of legislative bodies. One could be in the Texas Legislature and one could end up in the U.S. House. This is true grassroots advocacy in action. Great job, Stacy!

Another group, Texas Parent PAC ( http://bit.ly/1Q9sbtl ), has been vetting candidates for years to see if they support public education. You don't receive their endorsement if you are anti-public schools. Texas Parent PAC has been instrumental in electing pro-public school candidates. As they are still interviewing candidates, their endorsements will be available February 14, 2016...two days before Early Voting commences.

So, what can you do now to check out candidates? Remember the questions I mentioned in a previous blog:

• How do you support public education? (Not, "Do you support education?")
• Do you support vouchers?
• Do you support a tax credit plan? (That would decrease the amount of funds available to public schools.)
• Do you support giving private schools access to public funds? Or, "Do you support giving money from tax credits to private schools? They should answer, "No."
• Do you support a defined benefit plan for all current and future TRS retirees?
• Do you support providing reasonable, affordable, quality healthcare for TRS retirees and future retirees?
• What will you do as my legislator to ensure that eh TRS pension fund and TRS-CARE health insurance program are preserved and improved?
• And, if you are feeling frisky, ask them where their own children attend school. Do they attend a public, private, or home school? This question will tell you where their allegiances lie.

For example, J.D. Sheffield, (candidate in TX HD-59) says on his website, "Worked to reverse devastating funding cuts to schools, reduce standardized testing, improve accountability, and honor the promise made to our retired teachers."

On the other hand, Brent Graves, (candidate in TX HD-59), website regarding education states, "If money follows the child and not the zip code then institutions, public or private, are forced to compete for the students and quality will rise." Hum, as a public school proponent, that sounds like vouchers and sending money to private schools via tax credits.

It is easy to see the candidate in TX HD-59 who supports public school education and the one that doesn't.

Check back to our blog and we'll provide you with additional resources to encourage teachers to vote and to help you find out where candidates stand on issues important to you.