Leander ISD Students, Educators Meet With Legislators

LEANDER, TEXAS — Leander ISD students and educators recently met with state legislators as part of the recent PTA Rally Day at the Texas Capitol.

Students across LISD visited the seat of government to speak with elected officials about the legislative session and with peers across the state of Texas about political activism, Leander ISD officials said on their municipal website.

The group attended seminars led by elected officials, visited with young professionals working in state politics and students met with peers for a morning of learning on Feb. 25 before joining a procession of students and parents to the Capitol steps, officials described.

“Advocacy is the core of our PTA mission,” said LISD Council of PTA President Kathleen Schoening. “I watched Leander ISD students give their voices, listen and sit in reflection. I saw hope in their eyes that their voices mattered, were heard and could influence our legislative lawmakers. The Leander ISD Council of PTA’s would like to thank Leander ISD. Together, as partners, we will continue to back the future of every child.”

Leander High School senior Bri Branscomb set the tone for the afternoon, sitting on a panel discussion with students from Harlingen and Allen to talk to a room of 1,000 students about activism, officials said. Afterwards, the state-champion Vista Ridge High School marching band led the procession down the Capitol lawn to the south-side steps of the building, according to the district's account.

"I liked being able to speak to some of the senators and even students who had the same views as me as well as people who had opposing views to mine,” Glenn High School student Adison McFall said. “I think it was interesting to see another perspective."

In the afternoon, elected officials met with the LISD representatives to discuss legislative priorities and take questions from students about safety, mental health, finance and special education, district officials said.

Among the legislators who spoke with students were:

• Rep. James Talarico;
• Rep. J.M. Lozano;
• Rep. John Bucy;
• Rep. Vikki Goodwin;
• Rep. Donna Howard; and
• Sen. Charles Schwertner.

"I liked getting to talk to the representatives and senators about the current issues that are affecting us in our daily lives as a means of making those issues better for future students in our schools,” said LHS senior Mackenzie Jones.

In addition to the students and parents, LISD Trustees Grace Barber-Jordan, Trish Bode, Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Pamela Waggoner, and Elexis Grimes. The Leander ISD Board of Trustees adopted Legislative Priorities in November 2018 for the 86th Legislative Session.

View photos from the day found on the District’s photo website.

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