Terri Daniels, EdD, is the 2025 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year. The principal of Folsom Middle School in Folsom, CA, Daniels has more than 40 years of experience in public and private schools. Her leadership and advocacy have had a profound impact on educational policy at the state and national levels.
One of her longtime priorities is advocating for students with disabilities by working to strengthen protections under IDEA and Section 504 and ensure equitable access to high-quality education for all students. A tireless advocate for student voice, Daniels has worked to ensure students’ perspectives are central to policy decisions at both local and state levels. As the California state coordinator for NASSP, she has worked to maintain and increase federal funding, support mental health initiatives, and strengthen the teacher-administrator pipeline.
Here, she shares five tips for school leaders when it comes to advocating for their schools and communities.
1. Use your voice.
No one knows our jobs like we do. That’s why it’s so important to get real stories out there, which can help legislators, and the public, see the good things that are happening in schools. The media can make it look like public education is failing, but we know the real story is all the good things we are doing in school and out in the community.
2. Know the issues.
Principals and assistant principals should be aware of what’s happening at the local, state, and national level, even if they are new to their roles and aren’t ready to get involved as advocates. I’ve seen leaders who don’t understand the important distinctions of some crucial laws, for example IDEA. It’s a federal law, but many leaders ask state-level elected officials about changing it. So absolutely educate yourself and keep up on the issues.
3. Invite, invite, invite.
Try to get elected officials to visit your campus. I’m always reaching out to our members of Congress and our state legislators. My representative is Kevin Kiley, a powerful member of the Education and Workforce Committee. We might not agree on everything, but I think he does listen. It’s important to make him aware of what’s going on in schools. If it seems overwhelming to reach out to federal and state representatives, start by inviting school board and city council members to spend time at your school.
4. Find a mentor.
For people who don’t even know where to begin, and might be hesitant, I say start small. We have a lot of organizations of school leaders at every level, and many of their members would be happy to help by serving as a mentor. It could be done informally, or mentors could be assigned more formally, but I think it’s important to have help and support.
5. Take advantage of NASSP’s professional networks.
One great way to get more involved with advocacy—and with NASSP—is through NASSP Leadership Networks, meeting the needs of school leaders across the country. I’m mostly involved in the Women in School Leadership Network and the Middle Level Leaders Network. Once you identify the ones that suit you, you’ll find that it only takes one or two meetings to connect with a lot of great leaders. As the saying goes, if we don’t tell our stories, other people will tell them for us. Advocacy is about telling our stories in ways that focus on the important parts we want other people to hear.
