BACK SCHOOL TO
Ariz. Rep. Fernandez visits San Luis High, gets to speak with students
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Arizona State Rep. Charlene Fernandez visited San Luis High School at the end of September as part of “Take Your Legislator to School Day.”
Fernandez, who was elected to the state Legislature in 2015, spent nearly three hours on the campus touring classrooms, meeting with students, conducting a meet-and-greet with staff, and holding a question-and-answer session for students in the performing arts center.
“San Luis is in the heart of my district. I love it. I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Fernandez said. “This is my first stop, and I’m so proud of what’s happening here.”
At the beginning of Fernandez’s tour, she spoke to SLHS teacher Seth Wineland’s AP Government class, where she was asked questions by students ranging from “Have you ever met (U.S. Senator) John McCain?” to “How would you suggest a high school student get involved in politics?” Afterward she was given a 30-minute tour of the school by SLHS student council members Ashley Hernandez, Nilda Hernandez, Gabriel Castillo and MariaCeleste Ruvalcaba.
“I urge my colleagues to always go and tour our public schools because I want to see what’s happening there. (Public schools) are doing so much with so little,” Fernandez said. “I love meeting our teachers and especially talking to our kids. That’s the one thing I’ve asked my colleagues to do. So when we start talking about those bills that deal with cutting public education or taking money away from education, they can say, ‘No, first-hand I
was there and these are the good things that are happening there.’”
Much of what Fernandez talked about immediately resonated with students. She started her college career as “non-traditional student” several years after graduating from high school and pursued a degree in education before getting involved in the political arena.
“This is my second time meeting (Mrs. Fernandez) and, once again, I am going to continue working on politics (as a career),” SLHS senior Ashley Hernandez said.
“It just shows that I can go to college and not necessarily have to study law or study political science. I can study whatever I want and still pursue a career in politics.”
According to her biography on Arizona’s State Legislature website, Fernandez worked for U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor for 12 years, coordinating constituent services for the western portion of what was then Congressional District 2. While working for Pastor, she spearheaded an effort that culminated in bringing a Veteran’s Administration clinic to Yuma County for the first time in history; previously the Phoenix Veterans facility was the closest place for them to receive these services. Fernandez also helped numerous residents work through federal red tape for services ranging from Social Security to agriculture programs. She also served in a similar capacity for U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva.
The Take Your Legislator to School program is an annual collaborative initiative lasting the entire month of September. This initiative is spearheaded by the Arizona Educational Foundation and supported by two local Arizona partners: Arizona Education Association and Arizona K12 Center. Teachers invite local state legislators to spend a full day at their school to facilitate meaningful conversation between policy makers and educators and give state legislators an intimate look at the day-to-day realities of public schools in Arizona.
“(Public schools) are doing so much with so little. I love meeting our teachers and especially talking to our kids.” — State Rep. Charlene Fernandez