From left to right: Elizabeth Garlick, Evelyn Santos, Wendy Dotson, ASR-Elect Regina Cobb, and Joseph Curtis taking a tour of Beaver Dam Elementary School. Submitted photo.
On November 20, 2014, Arizona State Representative-Elect Regina Cobb and her husband visited Beaver Dam Elementary School. Fifth Grade teacher Wendy Dotson was chosen to participate in the Arizona “Take Your Legislator to School” initiative. The initiative was sponsored by The Arizona Educational Foundation, The Arizona Education Association, The Rodel Foundation of Arizona, and the Arizona K-12 Center. As Part of the TYLTS each Arizona Senator and Representative was partnered with a classroom teacher from their Legislative District. Mrs. Dotson and Dr. Cobb were assigned to work together. The purpose of TYLTS is to have each state legislator spend time observing and participating during a normal school day in a normal classroom so that they have a working understanding of what is really happening in today’s public schools.
The day began with a community breakfast where Representative Cobb and her husband were given the opportunity to meet with community members, student government leaders from Beaver Dam High School and Middle School, as well as Littlefield School District faculty and staff members. Dr. Cobb spent time helping student government leaders understand state government, the role she will play as a state representative, and how these students can continue to grow as leaders and involved citizens.
Following the breakfast, Representative Cobb and Mr. Cobb were given a tour of Beaver Dam Elementary School. The tour was lead by 5th grade students Joseph Curtis, Elizabeth Garlick, and Evelyn Santos. These expert guides were able to help Dr. Cobb get to know the facility and the culture of the school from the perspective of the students. Fifth grade students Trinity Alexander and Felix Hernandez introduced Representative-Elect and Mr. Cobb to the Beaver Dam Elementary student body at School Square. Ms. Cobb led the students in the pledge of allegiance.
Representative-Elect and Mr. Cobb spent the remainder of the morning with Mrs. Dotson’s 5th grade class. They were able to observe Mr. Patterson during a math re-teaching session, as well as a whole group math lesson taught by Mrs. Dotson. Ms. Cobb shared with the students what her job will be as an Arizona State Representative, and fielded student questions candidly and with good humor. She helped introduce the classes’ new writing project by explaining what The Pledge of Allegiance means to her.
The experience was an extremely positive one for everyone involved. Mrs. Dotson’s students enjoyed sharing their day with Representative-Elect Cobb. The children were honored and impressed by the fact that Dr. Cobb and her husband spent so much time and money to travel to Beaver Dam, Arizona from Kingman, Arizona. The students loved the fact that Ms. Cobb shared her ideas with them and answered all of their questions. Most of the Fifth Graders said that they would love to have Representative Cobb come and spend time with them again.
