Legislative
Annual Event Breaks Attendance Records
Educators Connect With Lawmakers at PAGE & GAEL Day on Capitol Hill
M
ore than 200 classroom teachers, school leaders and retired educators gathered in Atlanta for PAGE & GAEL Day on Capitol Hill Feb. 16. The event drew the largest attendance of its history and fostered exceptional levels of interaction among educators and legislators. Attendees heard from Senate Education Committee Chairman Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta); Education Reform Commission member and syndicated columnist Dick Yarbrough; and Georgia Budget and Policy Institute Senior Education Policy Analyst Claire
Suggs. Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods provided the keynote address. “This event is an important step in helping educators become effective advocates for their schools and public education,” says Dr. Allene Magill, executive director of PAGE. “The opportunity to speak with fellow educators from across Georgia, learn about key issues and meet with lawmakers at the Capitol builds confidence that educators can advocate for public education all the time. They learn that their voice really makes a difference and that they have the ability to
speak out on critical issues.” PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli and GAEL Executive Director Jimmy Stokes highlighted the most important pending education bills. They also shared with attendees the process for gaining an audience with House and Senate members under the Gold Dome to talk about important education issues. Prior to the event, Tippins, the Senate Education and Youth chair, and Rep. Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), the House Education and Youth chair, sponsored Senate and House resolutions honoring n PAGE & GAEL Day on Capitol Hill.
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March/April 2016
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