With his $3,276.50 Legislature in Action grant from the Education Foundation, Transition Facilitator Dallas Kennedy will be taking some Transition Learning Center kids to Austin to see how the legislature works.
Kennedy hasn’t pinned down a date yet, but said they will probably go at the end of March or early April.
“We have already spoken to some of our representatives, and they’re going to meet us there. Our students are going to get to go see some committee hearings, see the actual legislature while it’s in session; the House session and the Senate session,” Kennedy said.
He often takes the students to meetings of the county commissioners, city council and Ector County ISD school board so they can see those panels in action.
“They’ll also get to meet with some of their legislators and their staff (to) learn how this stuff happens in real life,” Kennedy added.
One of the things they like to teach students in the 18-plus program about is advocacy.
“We try to teach them how to take care of themselves, how to advocate for themselves. It’s important for them to know about their government and which government to approach when they have an issue. Whether they need to talk to the city, or the county, or the state, it’s important for them to understand that,” Kennedy said.
He added that students who have shown an interest will be selected for the trip.
“We design … plans around each individual (student). We have students that have actually shown a lot of interest in our local politics, or our state legislature — in civics,” Kennedy said.
Lawmakers attend large events or conduct town halls, but you don’t get to talk to them very much, he added.
“This will be an opportunity to sit down and ask them anything,” Kennedy said.
He noted that the students come up with good questions.
“We went and saw (U.S. Rep.) August Pfluger one time. One of them asked him if he was a real fighter pilot. August Pfluger got to share about flying the (fighter jets). And then he asked them, what’s your favorite scary movie? (Pfluger) said, I don’t watch scary movies, but going to Washington every day feels like a scary movie,” Kennedy said.
He added that he teaches the students about the voter registration process, but it’s something he has them do on their own with their families or by themselves.
Kennedy took students on this trip a couple of years ago.
They also go on an Austin Bat Tour and to the Bullock Texas State History Museum.
“They got to learn a lot about the history of Texas, which they were fascinated by, which I love, because I like to see people know where they come from, know where the state came from. It’s just important stuff,” Kennedy said.
He added that he would encourage other teachers to apply for Education Foundation grants.
“This is the second grant that I’ve received. Last year, we got one to build benches, and we built a bunch of benches. We were able to give some to other schools, even. We were able to use that for a great education opportunity,” Kennedy said.
These grants cover things the school district doesn’t have the funding for.
“It gives you the chance to give your students some real-world education that they may not get otherwise,” Kennedy said.
ECISD Board of Trustees President Chris Stanley is an advocate for the Transition Learning Center.
“The ECISD Transition Learning Center, led by Micah Pettigrew holds a special place in the hearts of many of us. The work the center does for our district’s students is vital and serves to create opportunities for students who might never get the opportunity to succeed,” Stanley said.
“Mr. Dallas Kennedy, a member of the TLC team, believes in the mission and message of inclusion so much that he has championed our students beyond the borders of Ector County. The willingness of these outstanding educators and our ECISD Education Foundation to advocate for our TLC students proves that our district is setting a framework for successes for every child,” he added.
