The Center for Teaching and Learning, a Pre-K–8 independent school in Edgecomb, recently welcomed Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. 

Secretary Bellows joined the whole school for Morning Meeting, speaking about her responsibilities as Secretary of State involving state records, elections, transportation, corporations, and more. She also spoke about the path that led her from kindergarten to state government. She discussed her role in making sure everyone who is over eighteen and a citizen in Maine can vote, talking about her office as non-partisan and her role as not telling people how to vote but making sure that they have the opportunity to share their opinion. 

Students were excited to share CTL’s Bill of Rights, the social contract held amongst students and staff, with Secretary Bellows. She spoke right away with students about her interest in “the right to be yourself” and the value of freedom of speech. 

After sharing about her life and work during the whole school meeting, Secretary Bellows joined the 7-8 class to answer additional questions about her role and personal history in government, as well as the issues that are most important to the students. 

The school was so honored to have a visit from Secretary of State Shenna Bellows as part of this year’s history curriculum. Students have been studying the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the three branches of government at both the state and federal levels. Hearing from a state-level politician helped deepen their understanding of government as present day - a live and active aspect of life as a Mainer.

Each year the history and science curricula at CTL, Pre-K–8, revolve around paired concepts. Students engage as researchers of the paired concepts across a year, learning in-depth and collaboratively about the natural and physical worlds and how history is shaped by the circumstances and choices of individuals and nations. 

Thank you, Secretary Bellows, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit CTL and answer all of our questions. 

To learn more about CTL, please visit our website at www.c-t-l.org, or contact CTL’s Head of School, Katy Inman, at katy@c-t-l.org.