Involving Teachers in State Education Governance

Teachers like me across the nation transformed physical classrooms into digital ones almost overnight. We quickly learned to use new tools, altered curriculum, and supported students without access to technology. We problem-solved to meet student and community needs. As the pandemic—the largest educational disruption in recent memory—rages into a new school year, the need persists for teacher voice at all levels, specifically in state governance.

State boards of education can advocate to include current teachers as members. Whether it is through a voting member, nonvoting member, or teacher advisory committee, direct educator voice is critical in state board decision making, both now and after the pandemic subsides. It is important to note that most state boards do have former teachers as voting members, and they add a wealth of classroom knowledge to their board deliberations. However, current practitioners provide a unique perspective, as they will implement enacted policies and directly experience the educational challenges associated with those policies. …