Lorenzo has returned from his trip to Austin, sponsored by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE).

Posted at February 19, 2005

The event, ATPE Lobby Day, allowed Lorenzo to meet with House Representative Brian McCall and Senator Florence Shapiro, head of the Senate Education Committee. Following the meeting, Senator Shapiro had negative comments to share with the Austin American-Statesman newspaper about Lobby Day. The paper states that Senator Shapiro disagreed with teachers going to Austin to meet with legislators while substitutes covered for them. What surprised Lorenzo most from the meeting with Senator Shapiro was that she appeared delighted to see teachers active in Austin discussing their opinions on bills being debated in congress and then is critical about the teachers being there in the first place.

In Lorenzo’s case, and for all of the teachers in Austin he met, a state personal-leave day was used. Texas provides personal-leave days for teachers each year. For Lorenzo, the event did have its benefits, as Lorenzo presented the Representative and Senator with letters containing specific concerns of his elementary campus. Also, Lorenzo walked away with a door prize from a training held before Lobby Day and was featured in the ATPE newsletter! Below are photos of the Texas Capital, a link to the Austin American-Statesman article, and a link to Lorenzo’s appearance in the ATPE newsletter:

Click on the thumbnails for a larger version: