It’s time to register for the WASA • WSSDA • WASBO Legislative Conference coming to you virtually in 2022. Conference details follow―act now to save your place!

ABOUT
The 2022 Legislative Session is the second year of the 67th Biennial Legislature. Known as the “short” session (limited to 60 days), the action will be fast and furious. Even though this is considered a “non-budget” session, fiscal issues will be a major topic, especially for K–12 education—with ongoing enrollment declines, staffing shortages, and other pandemic-related complications. Of course, policy issues will also be plentiful, even though educators’ plates are already overflowing. 

With continuing budget concerns and an urgent need to put a “pause on policy,” it will be essential for education leaders to actively participate in the legislative process to ensure our needs are not forgotten. Additionally, it will be critical, perhaps more than ever before, for education leaders to speak with one voice.

The WASA • WSSDA • WASBO Legislative Conference is your opportunity to hear updates on our shared legislative priorities, the current education budget and policy landscape, and how to effectively advocate for our collective needs. We encourage you to join your colleagues for this important event!

TARGET AUDIENCE
Superintendents, central office administrators, school board directors.

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Shankar Vedantam
Host, Hidden Brain Podcast

Shankar Vedantam offers unique insights into how our unconscious biases―what he calls the "hidden brain"―affect the decisions we make as individuals, groups, and organizations. He bases these insights on scientific studies and empirical research, not on lay theories about the subconscious mind.  Shankar will apply his research and stories as it applies to advocating with our Washington State legislators.

Resources from Shankar
Prior to the event, WASA suggests listening to some of Shankar's podcast episodes (NPR's Hidden Brain), to give a better understanding of the conference conversation. 

• • The Influence You Have (hiddenbrain.org) 
  •  The Story of Stories (hiddenbrain.org)
  •  Why Conversations Go Wrong (hiddenbrain.org)
  •  You 2.0: The Empathy Gym (NPR)
  •  You 2.0: The Deep Work (NPR)

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
The conference program will be delivered via Zoom on Sunday, January 30, 1–5 p.m.

Program highlights include:

• Keynote Shankar Vedantam
• Advocacy Efforts: Our association presidents
• Governor Jay Inslee (recorded)
• State Superintendent Chris Reykdal
• Student Voice and Their Advocacy Efforts
• Current Priority (TBD as session nears)
• Legislator Interviews (recorded)
• Hot Topics

REGISTRATION
Registration Rate: $195 per person

Opportunities in our Virtual Reality
• You will not incur housing and travel costs.
• Student representative registration is NOT limited.
• Self-host a post-session virtual meeting with your district’s participants to exchange ideas and continue work on your advocacy plan.

Login Information
WASA Members
Use your existing credentials.

WSSDA and WASBO Members
Refer to the registration email delivered November 17, 2021 for your login credentials. 

If you need assistance with your login/access, contact Lisa Gehman at 360.943.5717 or lgehman@wasa-oly.org.

ZOOM ACCESS
Within 24 hours of registering, you will receive a Zoom meeting confirmation (From: Jamie Chylinski <no-reply@zoom.us>). Please click the link in your Zoom confirmation to save the meeting and your personal link to join the event to your calendar.

Only one device is admitted per email so please do not share your link.

CLOCK HOURS
Up to four clock hours will be available to attendees participating live on January 30. The clock-hours form will be delivered via email post-event.

CANCELLATIONS
Unable to participate? No need to cancel. This session will be recorded, and paid registrants will receive personal (not shareable) access to the recording a soon as it has been processed. Still wish to cancel? A $50 administrative fee applies to all cancellations. No refunds after January 26. No Show = No Refund.

REGIONAL PLANNING MEETINGS
Regional Planning Meetings (RPMs) will be hosted (virtually) by WSSDA Legislative Committee members between January 18–28, 2022. The purpose of these meetings is to get familiar with the WASA, WSSDA, WASBO Legislative Conference Hot Topics and get organized for meetings with legislators. Meeting dates and registration for the regional planning meetings on WSSDA’s Regional Planning Meeting webpage. Register now!

WEEK ON THE HILL
Our Week on the Hill meetings with legislators will be held virtually, January 31–February 4, 2022. The purpose of these meetings is to meet with your legislators and/or their staff to advocate for the WASA, WSSDA, WASBO Legislative Conference Hot Topics.

Please visit the WSSDA’s Week on the Hill webpage to view scheduled meetings and to sign up by January 28. The meetings spreadsheet will be updated as additional meetings are scheduled.

Zoom links for the meetings will be provided separately, on or around January 30. You can find more information such as the hot topics, meeting schedule, and legislator meeting RSVP on WSSDA’s Week on the Hill webpage.

Student Representative Meetings with statewide elected officials will be held virtually, January 31–February 4, 2022. These meetings provide the opportunity for statewide elected officials to share how they are prioritizing the conference hot topics along with targeted advocacy from student representatives.

Click here and open the “Student Rep Meetings” worksheet to view the meetings that are scheduled to date. Please be sure to have student representative sign-up for meetings with statewide elected officials by January 28. You can find more information and the meeting schedule on WSSDA’s Week on the Hill webpage.

Zoom links for the meetings will be provided separately, on or around January 30.

QUESTIONS
Please contact Lisa Gehman at lgehman@wasa-oly.org with conference registration questions.

Contact Mike Nelson at mnelson@wasa-oly.org with questions about the conference.