WSPTA Outstanding Advocate, Nancy Chamberlain

The WSPTA Outstanding Advocate Award was established in 2004 to recognize an individual for his or her statewide advocacy and commitment in helping to create strong policies relating to the health, welfare, safety and education of children and youth. The individual should have furthered WSPTA’s policy positions (legislative principles, resolutions, and legislative issues) by activities such as, but not limited to, submitting policy positions, testifying on policy positions on behalf of WSPTA, or representing WSPTA on workgroups or coalitions.

This year's recipient is Dr. Nancy Chamberlain. She currently serves not only on the WSPTA Board of Directors as  Finance Officer, but also as Northshore Council PTSA's co-VP of Advocacy. She has dedicated many years to being a voice for all children, mentoring advocates and PTA leaders, and being all-around awesome. 

Heidi Baron Bennett, recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Advocate award, has graciously given permission to Northshore Council PTSA to share the speech she gave as she presented Nancy with the award at the 2020 WSPTA Convention.

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Washington State PTA Outstanding 2020 Advocate Award

The Washington State PTA Outstanding Advocate award recognizes the individual who goes way beyond the call of duty at both the state and local level to advocate for the health, education and well-being for children and youth.

Our Outstanding Advocate for 2020 is a remarkable individual with a rich history.

This individual:

• Has over 15 years volunteering and serving in leadership roles
• Served as her local advocacy chair at all 5 of her kid’s schools
• She also been a local president, local treasurer and many council positions including advocacy
• Like me, she’s an east coaster who got involved with advocacy after learning about ed funding
• Learning about the school levy campaign at her local PTA meeting, she jumped into the simple majority for levy campaign with both feet and hasn’t looked back from realizing PTA’S powerful voice for kids
• She’s often referred to as “an education google” because she has so much info both in her head and at her fingertips
• She’s been on many local district task forces -- later start times, middle school honors, highly capable, keeping 5th grade camps, grade reconfiguration, and others programs that benefit all kids, not just her kids.
  
• She’s extremely well respected by her local school district superintendent, the staff and can often be seen toting around large binders of background info.
• Her advocacy extends beyond PTA and she never shies away from leadership roles. She’s served as a leader in Girl Scouts, and served her local community as an elected precinct committee officer.
  
• She has a powerful presence in her community. She co-founded and still co-moderates a district-wide social media group that helps keep communication transparent in her school district. This group inspired other advocates to start their own local district wide online groups.
• She’s has the fastest thumbs on the internet, day or night and averages 3.5 second response time for a like and 1.5 seconds for a frown

- Do you know who this is yet? Raise your hand if you do.

• She is a relentless advocate for children who has worked on the local School bond and levy committee
• She’s no stranger to testifying in front of school boards, the legislators or other decision-making bodies. Her comments are always on point and very well respected by all.
  
• This individual is comfortable in many settings whether hiking in the wilderness, boating on the sound, chairing a PTA committee meeting, teaching in a classroom, staying on top of social media, or smiling while meeting with friends…all the time advocating for those in need and those who cannot advocate for themselves, Washington’s children.
• She firmly believes wine and coffee are food group and is dedicated to meeting the daily recommended intake.

- Now, do you know who this is yet? Raise your hand if you do.

• She’s said that I was her mentor but I’ve learned so much for her! We’ve mentored each other for years.
• She was a recent WSPTA Advocacy Director who helped reinvent Legislative Assembly with presentations and more opportunities to caucus.
• She’s never turned down an opportunity to identify and fix a problem. She goes the next steps to develop a fact sheet so everyone will have the information and benefit.
• She has made a difference for the children in her home, the children of Woodinville, the children of Northshore School District, the children of Washington State and all children in the United States, and she’s not done yet!

Please join me in recognizing our 2020 Washington State PTA Outstanding Advocate, a past Washington State PTA Advocacy Director and current Washington State PTA Finance Officer, Dr. Nancy Chamberlain.

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Heidi Baron Bennett
May 16, 2020
WSPTA Convention

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We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated and tireless advocate working for our children in Northshore and beyond!
Congratulations to WSPTA's 2020 Outstanding Advocate,
Nancy Chamberlain!
🎉🎉🎉