Elevating Parent Voice: Why Run for an Education Council

We are two New York City public school parents nearing the end of our first terms as elected representatives on Community Education Councils (CECs). And with this term almost complete, we are eager to run again in the upcoming CEC elections. Like any commitment, serving on a CEC requires time, energy, and passion. New Yorkers have these things but of course each is limited. Why give them to a CEC?

First, some quick background. A CEC is a group of parents which serves as an advisory body representing public school parents. CECs are organized by geographic “districts”. There are 32 Districts in the city and they vary greatly in size. There are also 4 citywide councils. With the exception of a few appointees, almost all CEC members are parents democratically elected by other parents. This is a volunteer position and CEC members are not paid. The next CEC election cycle is now underway! You can register as a candidate until February 13th and the voting will be held from April 21st  – May 9th .  

So what motivates someone to run? We were both drawn into this world 2 years ago. Education was a focal point of the prior administration’s policy agenda, leading to lively and heated debates at many CEC meetings. We both became increasingly concerned and frustrated with the parent representation in our district’s. Until 2021, CEC’s were not democratically elected. Prior to that members were chosen by a much smaller pool consisting of officers in district parent teacher associations. So for us, the combination of high profile policy debates and a more inclusive, responsive governance model made it an opportune time to declare our candidacy. 

What happens if you get elected? Meeting your CEC when the term starts in July is akin to boarding the Orient Express (hopefully minus the murder). The value of serving on a CEC lies in the diverse personalities, cultures, skill sets, and experiences. Some members will naturally gravitate towards analytics and writing. Others will use their social skills and persistence to establish a rapport with the Department of Education (DOE) and elected officials. Some members will focus their efforts on students with learning disabilities. Some will bring ideas to support academically gifted students. Others may focus on transportation, or language instruction or food service. The issues are as myriad as the approaches you can use. 

A CEC holds monthly meetings which serve as a platform for members of the community to hear from DOE leadership and share their thoughts and concerns. Your role (and time commitment) on the council is what you make of it. You need to follow the “decorum” of meetings, including being courteous towards speakers, fellow councilmembers, and your community. Meetings can get quite passionate and there will be dissenting opinions, with parents airing frustration or anger. But meetings are also filled with rich, informative discussion. Compared to before the pandemic, attendance at meetings has never been higher with virtual participation now a regular option. And many parents are very supportive of the work you will do. Most importantly, to be successful, you need to care deeply about our school communities and be willing to amplify families’ voices. 

During your tenure, you will have the chance to form relationships with individuals at all levels of the education system – from the Chancellor to the Superintendents to the employees at your liaison schools. You will meet with city and state elected officials. You will be asked for your opinion, and you will be expected to speak up because you are the parents’ voice. For example, Steve wrote a response to an education funding proposal that collected dozens of signatures from fellow CEC members, served as the foundation for several statements made by other CECs, and was sent to the Chancellor. You will also be able to give back where it is most needed. One of Debbie’s most rewarding actions was to help a student successfully obtain a safety transfer to a new high school after they were bullied and attacked. 

Finally, you will grow in a way that only the act of service can bring. You will never tire of hearing “thank you” from a parent. Not the cursory, rushed “thank you” we use a dozen times a day. But the genuine, validating version. And you will form deep partnerships with other parents. Our shared experience has fostered a strong sense of motivation to support one another. Actions that might seem too heavy a burden to undertake individually suddenly become weightless with your peers at your side. We are very proud to have served the families of New York City for the past 1.5 years. We are thrilled to call each other friends. We invite you to join us in this commitment.  

Deborah Kross currently serves as a Bronx Borough representative and Recording Secretary on the Citywide Council on High Schools. Stephen Stowe currently serves as President of the Community Education Council in District 20. 

Information on running for election to a Community or Citywide Education Council is available here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/Community-and-citywide-education-councils-cecs/elections-2023-community-and-citywide-education-councils

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