AAE Students Attend National Charter School Conference in Sacramento
By Teresa Dowd, Lewis Center Staff
Pictured are; Seated, Senator George Runner. From left; Vincent Ajanwachucu, gr 12; Austin Secrist, gr. 11; Troy Estes, gr. 11; Curtis Merrell, gr. 11 Sarah Pearson, gr. 12; Megan Loput, gr. 12; and Autumn Bains, gr. 11
On Wednesday, March 1, 2006, seven high school Student Ambassadors from the Academy for Academic Excellence (AAE) traveled to Sacramento to meet with their legislators at the State Capitol and to hear Governor Schwarzenegger speak at the 13th Annual California Charter School Conference.
Students met with State Senator George Runner, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, and Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy to voice their concern that America's K-12 students are falling behind their international peers, especially in math and science.
The students are proposing legislation that would allow the AAE as a laboratory school to test a longer school day and longer school year in order to help bridge the gap in education. The students also met with former Assemblyman Bill Leonard, who is currently a member of the State Board of Equalization.
Twelfth grader Sarah Pearson summed up the trip, "I thoroughly enjoyed the Sacramento Trip because it enlightened me to how influential the senators and assemblymen are to the future of our State. They run everything and will be the deciding factors in the course our state follows in the future."