For Social Studies teacher Ms. Richardson here at Park, civic engagement never felt like a distant concept reserved for adults in suits or politicians on TV.
“Early experiences, I don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t interested in civic engagement. My family was always involved in different ways, and I remember volunteering with civic organizations while still in elementary school. Then, in high school, I had a government teacher, Mrs. Kolas, who was so passionate about politics that it increased my interest, and from there I became more involved and active,” said Richardson.
Ms. Kolas, her AP Government teacher, whose energy and enthusiasm made politics feel alive, boosted Richardson’s interest. “She was so passionate about it, and that was contagious,” Richardson explained. Kolas didn’t just teach government; she modeled what it looked like to care deeply about the world and to be like that, so that young people could shape it, at a time when she rarely saw women in positions of political power, having a teacher who emboded that leadershuo mattered, “even when there were so few omen in power as I was growing up, I wanted to mkae a dfference amd help ensure women’s voices were heard” Richardson added.
As she grew older, her understanding of civic engagement expanded beyond voting or volunteering. Today, she believes one of the most important skills young people can develop is the ability to separate fact from fiction. In an era where misinformation spreads faster than truth, she sees media literacy as essential to meaningful participation, “so many people get their news from social media or one type or another, and it’s so often incredibly biased or just untrue,” Richardson explained. To her, being informed isn’t passive- it’s an active responsibility, “I think to be able to be informed, you have to understand this and actively work to combat it, then use that actual information to make the changes you want,” Richardson said.
But her political efforts not only support her, but her students as well.
“When I decided to found the Wheeling Park chapter of YLA, I struggled for weeks to find a willing sponsor, as many teachers already take on numerous roles. It wasn’t until introducing myself to Ms. Richardson that I was able to find the guidance I needed to make my goal a reality. Without her, our YLA chapter may have never come to fruition. Ms. Richardson’s dedication to YLA, despite never having me as a student prior to the club’s beginnings, highlights the impact of diligent and supportive educators,” said Jana Schodzinski.
However, there are a lot of struggles to being politically active as well.
“There is still a lot of sexism in the world in general, and that is very apparent in political and leadership spaces. Just look at how the media portrays women in politics versus men – women are held to a higher standard and treated unfairly by their peers and by the media and even other women. I think it is important to support one another and recognize that while we have come a long way in the last hundred years, attacking one another as people will just set women back. You can respectfully disagree with someone’s actions and beliefs without attacking them or belittling them, and I think that is a challenge for us all to work on,” said Richardson.
Richardson’s impact has not only impacted her students but has also impacted her. Her impact on her students is especially shown in activities and assignments in general.
“My message is to start volunteering, or finding a topic you are passionate about and a group that supports it. Join them. Go to meetings. Bring a friend so you feel more comfortable – but also do things that make you uncomfortable! The fear of the unknown is usually worse than the reality of the thing that scares you. I see so many young women who are articulate and active in fighting for their beliefs. As they grow and spread their ideas, we will have even more. As more and more women get involved, the barriers slowly lessen, and more and more change happens. It is a process where the end is always shifting. We just have to be willing to keep chasing it,” said Richardson.
Her journey- from a child volunteering with her family, to a student inspired by a passionate teacher, to an adult committed to truth and representation- reflects the power of civic education done right. It shows how one teacher’s influence can ripple outward, shaping not just a student’s interests but their sense of purpose, as well as serving as a reminder that civic engagement doesn’t begin with a ballot; it begins with the people who teach us to care.
