Students from Light of the World Academy in Pinckney got an up-close view of state government this week, thanks to State Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor) and State Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton).
Light of the World Academy is a K-8 Montessori charter school, and the students in grades 6-8 visited the Michigan State Capitol on Tuesday as part of the National School Choice Week celebration, wearing the signature NSCW yellow scarves to mark the occasion.
National School Choice Week is an annual celebration that brings together parents, educators, lawmakers, and others to highlight the importance of providing students with access to diverse and high-quality educational opportunities.
During the visit to the State Capitol, Rep. Conlin spoke with the students and invited them onto the floor of the House of Representatives.
She told them about her job as their representative, explained how the voting buttons on their desks work, and answered their questions about what her proudest accomplishment in Lansing has been (she said it was working on a bipartisan bill addressing mental health for veterans).
The Light of the World Academy students then had an opportunity to visit the floor of the State Senate, as well, as Sen. Theis gave them a tour and explained how she works with her fellow Senators on legislation.
Sen. Theis also had an opportunity to meet with Taylor Tiefel, an eighth-grader at LOTWA who portrayed the Senator last May as part of a Lansing Political Figures Living Wax Museum which was held as part of Charter Day at the Capitol, an annual day organized by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.
Sen. Theis also welcomed a group of students from Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy in Brighton onto the Senate floor during the National School Choice Week event.
