Gov. Jay Inslee visited Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary earlier this month to see first-hand the school’s instructional efforts on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Along with Washington First Lady Trudi Inslee, the governor watched first-graders doing “Squishy Circuits” with electronic components and play dough, and popped into a math lesson with differentiation specialist Jennifer Ledbetter, who was leading students through exercises using the number of Twitter followers for Katy Perry (78 million), President Barack Obama (66 million) and others.
In the school’s library, the governor chatted with students and briefly quizzed a student who was carrying a book about Egypt.
“What do they store in the pyramids?” Inslee asked with a smile.
“Did they store grain?” he asked, bringing to mind the recent remarks of a presidential candidate Inslee did not name.
After being told the remains of a pharaoh were inside, Inslee laughed again and said, “I was just wondering what they were teaching students.”
The governor also met with fourth-grade students in Blakely’s computer lab, and announced that their teacher, Sam Cameron, was the governor’s “Washingtonian of the Day.”
The governor told the student that he gives an apple lapel pin to the most inspirational person he meets each day.
“Your teacher is one of the leading teachers in the state of Washington because he is leading the way that other schools can learn how to use this technology,” Inslee said.
Inslee also spoke with school and district staff about efforts to fund primary education in the state.
He said he was leaving Blakely Elementary quite impressed.
“I saw exhibits A, B and C in innovation,” Inslee said.
“We all at the state are looking at innovative ways to help students in the new high-tech economy. And I saw multiple examples of innovation,” he added.
“I can’t think of anything more gratifying in my sort-of hometown [than seeing] that innovation happening in a public school sector.
“Innovation: Where first-graders are learning circuitry hands-on with a curriculum developed right here by these teachers; innovation in the math program; spatial instruction; using this computer system.
“It’s just innovative with a capital I,” the governor said.
