Roots rocks the vote!

Democracy and student voice are alive and well at Roots Academy at West Hill, where on Tuesday the whole school turned out to vote for a student leadership president.

Students privately cast their ballot either on paper or online for one of six fifth-graders. The top vote-getter will lead the school’s Student Leadership Team, which works with Principal Kendra Chaires-Francis and her administration to achieve school goals.

You can see a Facebook photo album of Roots' Election Day here. (You don't need a Facebook account to see the photos linked in the highlighted text. A window may appear that says, "To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log on or create an account,” but you can dismiss it by clicking “not now.”)

Shoutout to Roots reading teacher and Student Leadership Team adviser Lynese Sheares, who coordinated the elections. Under her guidance, student candidates developed platforms and campaigned; there was even Election Day media coverage by the school news!

If only the U.S. president’s race were this organized and civilized!