JSA Faculty Advisor Thanked

To the Editor,

I want to express my appreciation for the efforts of Randi Kiely in serving as the faculty advisor for the Newtown High School Chapter of the Junior State of America.

Serving as an advisor to the JSA chapter requires a very special demeanor. On a national, regional, and local level, the Junior State of America is a student run organization. (It is, in fact, the largest student-run organization in the country.) The advisors have to be able to facilitate the self-government by the students while discretely providing the appropriate oversight. I have had an opportunity to participate with Mrs Kiely in attending some of the regional overnight conferences. I was impressed by her enthusiasm, support, adaptability, and willingness to utilize her own time to accompany the students.

JSA is a non-partisan, nonprofit, student run organization which was founded over 60 years ago. It is sponsored jointly by high schools and the Junior Statesman Foundation as an extracurricular, social studies activity. The purpose of the organization is to teach high school students about government, to help them develop and polish their leadership skills, to encourage critical thinking, and to transmit the knowledge necessary for active, informed citizenship.

In addition to the local activities by the NHS chapter, participation in regional and state conventions is a key component of the JSA program. These conventions extend over several days and attract hundreds of students. I have had the privilege of observing over 500 high school students, all in business attire, actively engaged in discussions and debates about key political issues. A three-day conference, planned and run by students from over 30 different high schools, is an impressive event for the student participants and for those adults who have the opportunity to observe.

The Newtown chapter, with the active support of the faculty and Mrs Kiely, has had an opportunity to not only participate in these events, but to achieve some prominence as a chapter and in the leadership of the organization. At the last conference, two weekends ago, there were 15 students attending from NHS.  This is substantial progress for an organization which only obtained official recognition at NHS this year.

In addition, NHS students have had an opportunity to serve as elected and appointed officials for the regional organization. On an ongoing basis, the students participating in JSA have the incomparable experience of working collaboratively with their highly motivated and politically aware peers. These peers are drawn from such schools as Bronx Science (NY), Stuyvesant (NY), Garden City (NY), Weston (CT), Fairfield Prep (CT), Exeter (NH), Concord (MA), etc. In terms of the high schools represented, the JSA schools include some of the best regarded public and private high schools. It is a fortunate opportunity for the Newtown students to participate in this organization. In my experience as a parent of high school students, this is the only occasion where I have seen students work on an ongoing and cooperative basis with such a diverse group of students.

Again, I want to commend the efforts of Mrs Kiely, the high school faculty, and of course the students in their successful launch of the Newtown JSA chapter.

Yours truly,

Michael L. Stern

8 Sawmill Ridge Road                         April 25, 2000