Advocacy
This page highlights the latest Advocacy activities. Check the PTA newsletter for updates. Email advocacy@connpta.org.
CONNversation night: Money Talks
February 12, 2025, Wednesday, 5:30p-7:30p, Lions Park Community Center, Conn Elementary School (new location!)
A budget-focused school advocacy event with special guests:
Toshiba Rice
WCPSS School Board District 4 Member
Susan Book
Advocate, writer, podcaster
RSVP required
Children will have the opportunity to interact meaningfully with Representative Rice, and game room activities will be provided during the meeting.
Free dinner is served at 5:30, program begins at 6.
Agenda
Food
School Funding 101 Presentation (Susan Book)
Remarks (Toshiba Rice)
Moderated Q&A
Audience Q&A
Student participation
Susan Book is the co-leader of Save Our Schools NC.
Email advocacy@connpta.org for more information
Upcoming EVENTS
Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 8-9pm, monthly online Advocacy Committee meeting
Online only: Click here to join via Google Meet
All are welcome!
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 5:30pm, WCPSS School Board Meeting, Cary
WCPSS Central Services building, Crossroads I, 5625 Dillard Dr., Cary.
Meeting agendas are published here.
Live streaming of meetings is available on WCPSS' YouTube channel. (Be sure to select 'live').
To speak at WCPSS BOE meetings, sign up here from 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting. See our WCPSS School Board Commenting Guide.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 5:30pm-7:30pm, CONNversation Night: Money Talks
Lions Park Community Center, 516 Dennis Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27604
Current Advocacy Opportunities
Funding
STOP HB 10 and Voucher Expansion! Sign and share the Public Schools First NC petition to tell our legislators to UPHOLD Governor Cooper’s Veto And STOP Wasting Tax Dollars on School Vouchers! Explore the rest of the Private School Voucher Toolkit.
End tax breaks for corporations - Sign the Every Child NC petition to demand that corporations in NC pay taxes to fund education.
Awareness
Get an ADVOCATE shirt - join the PTA street team! All proceeds from the ADVOCATE campaign will be used to provide grants to struggling units in Wake County.
Advocacy 101
WCPSS School Board Commenting Guide
NC School Funding 101 - Guide from Save our Schools NC
North Carolina state government 101 - PDF from EdNC for advocates
Every Child NC Advocacy Toolkit - English and Spanish guides on the Leandro Plan, public education policy, and public education elections. Guías en inglés y español sobre el Plan Leandro, política de educación pública y elecciones de educación pública.
Private School Voucher Toolkit - Comprehensive resources from Public Schools First NC
NC Child Advocacy Toolkit - Details the difference between advocacy and lobbying; includes tips for community-based, legislative, and digital advocacy; and shares the perspectives of child advocates and state legislators.
Understanding Legislative Advocacy for Children in North Carolina: A Guide to the General Assembly (NC Child)
WHO'S DOING THE WORK AT CONN?
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Every WCPSS school is required to carry out a school improvement plan (SIP). According to WCPSS, "the purpose of SIP is to improve achievement and outcomes for every student by working to eliminate the ability to predict achievement based on socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Every WCPSS school is charged with collaboratively and continuously analyzing data and making decisions considering the unique needs of the learning community and the district's strategic plan."
In other words, this is a school-run program; it is not affiliated with PTA. However, PTA does help recruit parent representatives.
If you would like to get involved, please reach out to Principal Corey at jcorey@wcpss.net or Assistant Principal Michael Warholik@wcpss.net.
To view Conn's school improvement plan and learn more, use the credentials found in the right hand column on the Conn's SIP webpage.
Every year, Conn admin works with PTA to vote in one or two parent representatives to serve on Conn's SIP Team. For the 2024-2025 school year, Ms. Kellee Lewis and Ms. Lauren Lankford are Conn's parent representatives.
Lauren Lankford, SIP PArent REp
Lauren Lankford has a first grader at Conn and a four-year-old who can't wait to join her big brother there next year. Lauren is a former teacher who spent a year teaching intervention groups at Conn. She is excited about leading the PTA literacy committee and serving on SIP this year!
Kellee Lewis, SIP Parent REP
Kellee Lewis has a 5th grader, 3rd grader, and 1st grader at Conn ES. She's been active leader on the Conn PTA board, having served on almost every committee! She is committed to serving all children and advocating for public schools in Wake County!
TOSHIBA RICE, School Board District 4 Rep
Conn ES is in WCPSS District 4 which has been represented by Ms. Toshiba Rice since Feb. 2024. Ms. Rice is one of nine school board members currently elected to serve on the Wake County Board of Education, the local governing body of the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS).
The school board consists of nine representatives who collectively set policy for the school system implemented by WCPSS Superintendent Dr. Robert P. Taylor and administrative staff. Current policy debates include:
pending policy regarding school-issued devices such as Chromebooks and cell phones (or any communication device such as a smart watch) in the classroom
teacher pay, driver shortages, student transportation
As our WCPSS rep, Ms. Rice wants to hear from parents, students, and the community about your school experience (the good, the bad, and the ugly) in Wake County. Ways to engage:
Email (trice@wcpss.net)
Attend and speak at bimonthly WCPSS school board meetings (see details above)
Attend district 4 Board Advisory Council (BAC) meetings that consists of citizen members, school administrators and other staff to provide feedback and consultation by to Ms. Rice (see details above)