KNEA hosts 2026 Advocacy Retreat

Nearly 100 KNEA members gathered at Topeka KNEA headquarters on Saturday, Jan. 10, for the 2026 Advocacy Retreat.

By Ann Marie Bush

KNEA Communications Director

Nearly 100 Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) members attended the 2026 KNEA Advocacy Retreat on Saturday, Jan. 10, in Topeka.

The retreat has been taking place for more than 10 years and equips members with tools to advocate effectively for public education and influence policy decisions.

Members learned about the importance of advocacy, how to navigate the Statehouse, the power of collective action, and key issues for the 2026 legislative session, which began Monday, Jan. 12.

Gubernatorial candidates Ethan Corson (D), Cindy Holscher (D) and Vicki Schmidt (R), along with Attorney General candidate Chris Mann (D), joined the afternoon session to share their perspectives and answer questions.

KNEA invites all members to get involved in advocacy activities. There are numerous volunteer opportunities through KNEA’s At the Table program. Visit https://bit.ly/4pDxinx for volunteer information.

Ann Marie Bush can be reached by email at ann.bush@knea.org.