Special to the Reporter

Legislators on both the state and federal levels celebrated public education during American Education Week Nov. 16-20. Eighth-grade teacher Brigitte Tennis extended invitations to several legislators to co-teach with her at Redmond’s Stella Schola Middle School in Lake Washington School District. Tennis was not surprised when legislators responded with enthusiasm and eagerness.

“Our elected officials really want to experience modern public education by being part of the teaching and learning process,” Tennis said.

Tennis, a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and member of the National Teacher’s Hall of Fame, feels that there are many benefits when legislators participate in the learning process. The students are excited because they can see that decision-making adults care enough about their learning to become part of it.

“Students ask questions as they explore their own ideas about what government is and ought to be,” Tennis said, “and sometimes, they ask some pretty hard questions!”

The legislators experience a real classroom with real students, and what real learning looks and feels like on a daily basis.

“Co-teaching helps public officials make better decisions because those decisions are based on hands-on experiences,” Tennis said.

On Nov. 16, Rep. Patti Kuderer (seat vacated by Ross Hunter) from the 48th Legislative District co-taught a science lesson which was integrated with English.

Kuderer said, “I was impressed that school is so different than when I was volunteering in 2008. Students were really engaged in the learning! I would love to come again!”

Eighth-graders explored the properties of two different kinds of paper by performing experiments and then drew conclusions via a five-paragraph essay. When asked by student Teagan Elliott why she wants to serve in the legislature, Kuderer replied, “I want to work with both parties to cut out areas of waste so that we can find money for public schools.  Schools ought to be fully funded.”

On Nov. 18, students interacted with Rep. Roger Goodman from the 45th Legislative District.

“I want to help people and that’s why I went into law. I have two rules in life: be nice and have fun,” he told students. Goodman, a Harvard graduate who studied Latin and Greek in college, said he was impressed that the class was learning Latin because “the art of politics is using language to get people to do things, and Latin can help you because it increases vocabulary and expands the mind.”

Engaged in discussion of the environment and global needs, Ian Sleeman asked how he was planning to uphold the McCleary decision. Rep. Goodman said that our state was “having a hard time agreeing on how to do that, but we pay less than most other states for public schools and that needs to change.”  This was Rep. Goodman’s third year visiting Mrs. Tennis’ class.

At the end of the week, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st Congressional District of Washington state) paid a visit to Tennis’ class.

“I reached out to her because she has always made time to speak with my students in the spring when we go to Washington, DC, so I knew she would jump at the chance to come to the classroom,” Tennis said.

Congresswoman DelBene co-taught in an algebra I class with Tennis that highlighted the common core standards of perseverance and logical thinking. With the added benefit of moving gummy bear manipulatives on paper (and occasionally into their mouths) students used various methods to solve the problem.

“Finding different ways to solve problems is what we do in Congress,” DelBene commented, pointing out the real-world application of the activity.

DelBene and Tennis worked as a team to keep students thinking by asking probing questions as students struggled to get the solution. Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of “Aha!” and “Oh!” and “We got it!”  as their hard work paid off.

“This was fun,” said eighth-grader Sebastian Wick, “and tasty, too!”

Creating personal relationships with legislators in the classroom creates opportunities for students to learn more about current issues so they can engage in the legislative process when they can vote.

Tennis has been building relationships with legislators and community members for a number of years.

“It takes courage to step into a classroom and co-teach, and I admire that our public officials strive to really learn about kids and schools today,” she said.

Experiences like these allow legislators to see, first hand, what goes on in a public school and the role of a teacher as an instructor and as a facilitator of learning in the diverse classroom today.

Congresswoman DelBene was honored to be asked to co-teach with Tennis, and said she was looking forward to meeting this group of students in Washington, DC in June.

“Co-teaching is a great way to honor the people who are making a difference to be sure all children receive a quality education,” DelBene said.

Next month, Sen. Andy Hill (45th Legislative District) and Rep. Joan McBride (48th Legislative District) will also visit Tennis’ classroom.