The 2026 Network for Public Education’s Conference is in Houston, Texas area from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2026. Pastors for NC Children will be joining our partners from Pastors for Florida Children and Pastors for Texas Children to present a workshop on Saturday morning, 9/26 at 9:45am. 

The workshop is: From Assistance to Advocacy: How to Create Effective Partnerships Between Schools and Congregations. 

Presented by:

• The Rev. Rachel Gunter Shapard, Co-Founder, Pastors for Florida Children; VP Blackbelt Region, Together for Hope Rural Development Organization
• Bishop John Ogletree,  Board President, Pastors for Texas Children; Pastor, First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Houston
• The Rev. Holly Gaskill Bandel, Director, Pastors for Texas Children; Pastor, First Methodist Church of Sachae, TX
• The Rev. Suzanne Parker Miller, Founder, Pastors for North Carolina Children

Description: This workshop will identify ways by which public school advocates and educators can connect with local faith communities to grow grassroots support by sharing examples of successful local faith community-local school partnerships. It will also share to encourage faith communities to add advocacy to the volunteer/ service/ donations they provide for a local school without jeopardizing a faith community’s 501(c)3 status.

• Presentation Slides (Canva)
• Presentation Slides (PDF)
• Handouts PDF
• Church-School Partnership Resources & Public Ed Support Statements
• Public Education Support Agencies (national, state, faith-based lists)
• Ideas for Church-School Parntership
• Public School Advocacy Calendar from CBF Advocacy
• Church & School Partnerships Workshop video (designed for faith leaders)