The Government Relations Committee (GRC) meets with elected officials, including School Board Members and state lawmakers. Making sure our voice heard is vitally important and the GRC is one of the best ways to make that happen. The GRC meets the 4th Thursday of every month (except November and December). The GRC also coordinates annual trips to Tallahassee to visit the State Capital during the legislative session. Feel free to come to any GRC meeting. Contact the chair Dorothy Cheever-Featherstone (dcheever@volusia.k12.fl.us) or the VUE office for more information.
Over Spring Break 2026, Susan Holbrook and I had the opportunity to participate in Target Tallahassee. We met with Representatives Chase Tramont, Webster Barnaby, and Bill Partington. Despite extremely busy schedules, each graciously made time to sit down with us.
We were able to share the daily realities educators face in Volusia County and to remind them that teachers are committed professionals dedicated to student success — not the adversaries some media narratives suggest.
All three representatives welcomed thoughtful conversation, answered our questions directly, and expressed openness to continued dialogue. They acknowledged the complexity of our work and shared an interest in improving conditions for both educators and students. I encourage each of you to reach out and share your story. Legislators need to hear directly from the educators serving their constituents every day.
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Chase.Tramont@flhouse.gov
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Webster.Barnaby@flhouse.gov
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Bill.Partington@flhouse.gov
In addition to our legislative meetings, we connected with union brothers and sisters from across the state who were also advocating for fair pay and improved working conditions within their respective professions.
The Florida AFL-CIO provided daily morning briefings to keep advocates informed on key legislative developments, and the Florida Education Association (FEA) staff offered consistent guidance and support before we headed to the Capitol.
Seeing individuals from every corner of Florida engage in passionate, informed advocacy for a stronger future was both energizing and inspiring. One of the greatest joys of teaching is realizing you’ve made a difference in the life of a child. Equally powerful is recognizing that through advocacy, we can influence policies that impact children — and educators — across the entire state of Florida. Solidarity!
