‘Unapologetically ourselves’
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis tours Jefferson-Morgan schools
Lt. Gov Austin Davis still remembers when then-Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker, visited his school during his fifth-grade year at McKeesport Area School District.
无毛视频淲hen I got sworn in as lieutenant governor, he brought pictures from that visit to my office, so it was pretty cool,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淪o you never know where life无毛视频檚 gonna take you.无毛视频�
Davis potentially launched another full-circle moment Tuesday. He toured Jefferson-Morgan schools, visiting with Teacher of the Year Madeline Loring and talking about some of the administration无毛视频檚 education priorities.
Superintendent Dr. Brandon Robinson said he appreciated the chance to show off the district, and to give students across all grade levels the chance to speak with the lieutenant governor.
无毛视频淭he student voice is extremely important in our district, so for them to be able to have a talk with the lieutenant governor is such a valuable experience that they无毛视频檒l remember forever,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频溛廾悠郸We无毛视频檙e very proud of our school and very proud of our staff, so being able to show that off has been very rewarding.无毛视频�
Davis无毛视频檚 tour took him throughout the elementary and high schools, where he met with groups of students and ducked into classrooms for impromptu greetings.
In a meeting with students from Jefferson-Morgan无毛视频檚 Rocket Launching Leadership program, Davis explained his role as 无毛视频渂asically the vice president of Pennsylvania.无毛视频�
But he spent more of that meeting hearing out students, asking for their thoughts on topics like the proposed cellphone ban in K-12 schools.
Tenth-grade student Beautiful Medlen said students should be able to use their cellphones for educational purposes like broadcasting class and yearbook, where students use them to take photos and upload them to their computer.
无毛视频淚t would just kind of set us back a little bit because we would have to get funding to get digital cameras, SD card readers, all that stuff,无毛视频� she said.
Davis praised the students for bringing shades of grey to the conversation.
无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檙e hitting on a really good topic, and that无毛视频檚 nuance, and that is something that we often miss in the state capitol. It无毛视频檚 usually all or nothing,无毛视频� he said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro无毛视频檚 budget proposal includes $100 million for school safety and mental health grants for public schools, the same amount as in last year无毛视频檚 budget. Davis quizzed the students on how they felt the district was meeting those goals.
The school resource officers were 无毛视频渨elcoming,无毛视频� students said. And they felt like they could open up to their teachers if they had problems.
无毛视频淭hey can tell if you无毛视频檙e upset or something无毛视频檚 going on,无毛视频� one student said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檒l ask you, even if you无毛视频檙e too afraid to speak up about it.无毛视频�
Davis encouraged students to continue working to support each other and their community. That might look like elected office. Or it might take the form of volunteering at City Mission, or an after-school program.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檇 encourage you all, as you go forward, to keep figuring out what that role is for you, and always be somebody who无毛视频檚 giving back,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淏ecause 无毛视频� it just comes back to you tenfold, and it makes this world a better place.无毛视频�
Other stops included Brittany McIntire无毛视频檚 life skills and autistic support classroom, where he spoke with students and grabbed a coffee from Mac无毛视频檚 Coffee Shop.
At the elementary school, stops included the library, where he heard a presentation from the school无毛视频檚 Gifted & Talented Education Students.
无毛视频淒o you guys practice public speaking in the GATES program?无毛视频� Davis said afterwards. 无毛视频淏ecause you all are so good. I might need to come get some lessons.无毛视频�
Tying in to another administration budget priority 无毛视频� a $5 million increase in student teacher stipends to $35 million annually 无毛视频� Davis heard from Caroline Poole, a former student teacher of Loring无毛视频檚 who had received the grant.
无毛视频淲ith that stipend, it really reinforced that our time is valued and that our passion for shaping the young minds is a gift, and a lot of people really want to see us succeed,无毛视频� she said.
The tour also took Davis to Barry Mylan无毛视频檚 Trout in the Classroom program, where students help raise trout to be released into local waters, and the elementary无毛视频檚 life skills and autistic support rooms.
Finally, Davis visited Loring无毛视频檚 classroom, where he watched students play the math game 无毛视频淐enters.无毛视频�
无毛视频淲hat无毛视频檚 so great about our district is they无毛视频檙e so focused on all of us just being unapologetically ourselves, which is part of the message I want to take across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, that when we can tap into what brings us joy, then we无毛视频檙e able to share that with our students,无毛视频� she told Davis.
Davis was impressed by the students无毛视频� joy for learning, and the festive atmosphere.
无毛视频淚 love the decorations in here,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚t really does feel like each room is its own personality,无毛视频�
Robinson hoped the visit communicated the importance of rural districts like Jefferson-Morgan.
无毛视频淩ural schools matter just as much as any other place, and we do just a great of a job as anybody else,无毛视频� he said.