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Passion for public education leads Hannah to advocacy ambassador role

By Jacob Calvin Meyer staff Writer jmeyer@thealmanac.Net 3 min read

Photo courtesy of Lena Hannah

Photo courtesy of Lena Hannah

Lena Hannah at the state Capitol in Harrisburg for PSBA’s Advocacy Day.

Lena Hannah didn’t realize the importance of education until after she graduated high school.

Neither of her parents graduated high school, and she had to get a job to help support her family when she was 16 years old.

Now, Hannah, a three-term member of the South Fayette School Board and one of six advocacy ambassador for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, spends most of her days talking about public education.

“It wasn’t until after I got married and then went back to school myself and had kids that I understood the importance of having an education and how it opens doors,” Hannah said. “Kids are literally our future and our foundation.”

PSBA, a nonprofit organization that represents pubic school boards and lobbies for public education, started its advocacy ambassador program last October. Each ambassador works 20 hours a week, and the paid position ends in July.

The six ambassadors represent PSBA in a specific region; Hannah is the ambassador for Western Pennsylvania, which covers 10 counties, 125 school districts, 46 state representatives and 11 state senators.

In her role, Hannah meets with legislators, school districts and school boards to be the “liaison” between public education and Harrisburg.

“I think it’s a wonderful privilege having a chance to be there as that person between both groups,” Hannah said.

Photo courtesy of Lena Hannah

Photo courtesy of Lena Hannah

Photo courtesy of Lena Hannah

Lena Hannah with state Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair.

Hannah, who also works part-time in a doctor’s office, often drives to Western Pennsylvania school districts to hear their “success stories.”

She then researches the legislators representing those districts and looks into proposed legislation that could affect public education.

“I try to be there as that person who can be a good resource and explain how it will impact districts,” she said. “I try to bring in all the positive things that are happening in school districts and share their stories.”

One of Hannah’s biggest beliefs when it comes to public education is that equality is not the same as equity when it comes to state funding for school districts.

“When we look at being equal, that doesn’t mean funding everybody the same,” Hannah said. “Some districts need more money versus others. That’s why public education needs to be funded better. Part of my job is trying to explain that and explain the differences in some districts versus others.”

Hannah’s passion for public education stems from the fact that public schools don’t get to pick and choose their students.

“We take every kid,” she said. “We don’t select who gets to come and who doesn’t get to come in our doors. That’s what makes us great. Even though there are struggles, it makes it better because there’s diversity and that’s how we grow.”

Even though Hannah is busy working two part-time jobs and being a school board member, she said advocating for public education is her passion.

“There’s great work in public education,” she said. “People are doing great work all across the commonwealth, and it’s a privilege to be able to do that. I love what I do.”

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