Bringing parents and teachers to the federal table

Malvernite helps introduce education legislation in Congress

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Ten years ago, Howard T. Herber Middle School teacher Marguerite Izzo found herself in the office of U.S. Sen. Carolyn McCarthy and began recounting her observations stemming from the No Child Left Behind Act. As she was talking, McCarthy yelled for an aide to grab a notebook and start writing. “I couldn’t believe someone cared,” said Izzo, adding that this was the beginning of legislation to involve teachers in writing federal education policy. “The legislation was introduced two or three times, but never got off the ground,” Izzo said.

When U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice won the 2014 election, Izzo visited her as well. “I thought it was going to be a meet-and-greet, but she began firing questions at me,” Izzo recalled. Rice’s aide later called her about the legislation she had helped McCarthy draft years ago, suggesting that parents be added to it. “I thought that was brilliant,” said Izzo, who was named New York State Teacher of the Year in 2007.

Last week, with help from Izzo and the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, Rice introduced the Teachers and Parents at the Table Act, which seeks to establish two committees — one made up of teachers and another of public-school parents and family members — that would advise the U.S. secretary of education and report to Congress about their experiences with federal education policies at the local level, as well as a range of other important issues.

The Teachers Advisory Committee would comprise of public-school teachers who have demonstrated policy expertise and represent the diversity of the teaching workforce from multiple geographic, grade level and specialty areas.

The Parents and Family Members Advisory Committee would advise the secretary and report to Congress on parental involvement and family engagement in education and offer direction for state and local education authorities to improve family engagement. This committee would consist of public-school parents and family members with a history of involvement and engagement in their schools, and represent multiple geographic areas serving a diversity of students.

Rice spoke about the new legislation at the 2017 National Network of State Teachers of the Year conference in Washington last week, where Izzo introduced her.

“The federal government has important roles to play when it comes to crafting national education policies, but we only do ourselves a disservice if we fail to draw on the input, advice and expertise of the people who implement and see the effects of those policies every day in classrooms and homes across the country,” Rice said. “Teachers, parents and family members know better than anyone what our students need to succeed, and creating these committees will give them a seat at the table and give us the benefit of all the knowledge and experience they have to offer.”

Izzo also spoke at the conference about the federal government slashing Title II funding — which is used increase the number of high-quality teachers and principals in school districts across the country. Rice’s legislation, Izzo said, should be a government no-brainer. “This bill cost very, very little money,” she said. “It’s just letting Congress and the [education] secretary into our classrooms without actually coming to our classrooms. It’s knocking down walls so [the federal government] can see how their work affects students in our communities.”

In addition to the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, other organizations supporting the bill include the National PTA and the National Education Association. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York is the bill’s Republican co-lead sponsor.

Izzo, who is a NNSTOY board member, an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and a teacher for 40 years, said she appreciates the opportunity to make a difference. “I can’t emphasize enough how incredibly fortunate I am to be part of the Malverne family,” she said. “[Superintendent] Dr. [James] Hunderfund has been an invaluable partner throughout this process. I’m very grateful to be teaching. It’s just the best job in the world.”