It was in March 2010, just months after the author's retirement as a superintendent, when she received a phone call from state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock asking if she would be interested in working for him as an education policy staffer in the upcoming 82nd Texas legislative session. Aycock was set to serve a second term on the House's education committee and a second term on the appropriations committee. The author was ready for a new experience--and she got it. From her perspective, as someone who had spent 32 years working in public schools, the most troubling issue facing the legislature was how to handle a major shortfall in state revenue. More importantly, how would lawmakers address the fiscal impact on public education, the single largest expenditure in the state's budget? Having served during an important session, the author now can offer other education leaders a legislative staffer's perspective of the dealings that take place regarding funding and legislation affecting the schools. The major lesson she learned was that it is the educators' responsibility to let representatives and senators on the state and federal levels know what matters most. Only when they communicate their priorities effectively can the legislature provide meaningful support to public schools. Based on her personal and up-close observations of the inner workings at the Texas Capitol, the author shares a few suggestions for how to work effectively with legislators and members of their staff.