Focus On Education

Local News

Related Photos

November 21, 2009

Science Hill students visit Lt. Governor Mongiardo

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Sat Nov 21, 2009, 06:49 PM EST

If one wants to teach students about leadership, why not go straight to the top of the chain?

That’s exactly what teacher Hannah Young decided to do to teach a group of students with the Gifted and Talented Program at Science Hill School about leadership skills.

Earlier this month, 11 students with the Gifted and Talented STLP (Students Technology Leadership Program) made the trip from Science Hill to Frankfort to ask Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo a few things about leadership skills and their importance to leading a successful life — and to brush up on their interviewing skills.

“Each student asked him (Mongiardo) a question,” Young said. “The main leadership tip we gained was ‘changes always need strong leaders.’”

The students had 30 minutes of face time with Mongiardo, and then toured the capitol.

“Even though we did not meet representatives, the students received citations from Rep. Tommy Turner and Sen. Vernie McGaha,” Young said.

The students, who had to undergo an evaluation before being accepted into the STLP program, have also been working on gaining knowledge about technology throughout the year. The two can go hand in hand.

“Even new technology has been met with resistance,” Young said, about the importance of leadership skills in the technology sector.

The students were “delighted” to meet with Mongiardo, who keeps a very busy schedule, said Science Hill Superintendent Rick Walker.

“This is an extremely busy time for the Lt. Gov., trying to work with our legislators to solve the budget crises while protecting Kentucky's public schools,” Walker said.

The group’s goal at school this year is to assist the school’s teachers in setting up and maintaining a Web page for their classes.

“We have quite a few children at Science Hill School identified as Gifted and Talented,” Walker said. “Our teachers here are excellent at differentiating instruction so that children of all different abilities are challenged and prodded to continuously learn and grow.”

Text Only

Local News

Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Local Democrats diss Obama
May 23, 2012
Floyd edges incumbent in city council run-off
May 23, 2012
Pine Knot man leads law enforcement on chase
May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Tragic accident claims toddler
May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Woman with child in car cited for DUI
May 18, 2012
Weigel: Law enforcement, doctors must communicate about drugs
May 18, 2012
Man charged with utility trailer thefts
May 18, 2012 1 Photo
Credit card policies for utility bills are eyed by councilors
May 17, 2012
March for Hope to spotlight drug problem
May 17, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Focus On Education

Science Hill students visit Lt. Governor Mongiardo

Site Map