Schodack Town Supervisor Dennis Dowds speaks to students about politics and his role in the town.
Students at Sackett Educational Center got the chance to learn a little about politics from a professional. Schodack Town Supervisor Dennis Dowds visited the school January 25 to give the students some insight into the world of government.
Sackett Student Council President Albert Schneck scheduled the visit.
“Albert wants to be a politician, so he initially emailed Mr. Dowds to find a time to meet with him to learn how to get into politics, what his job is like,” Questar III Clinical Team Lead Jane Govola said.
“I want to become a politician when I become older. I met Supervisor Dowds to get some tips. I learned that being a politician is not about running for election it is about what you do after the election. I was very thankful for Supervisor Dowd’s visit to the John E. Sackett Center,” Schneck said.
That idea evolved into having the Supervisor come speak to students who will be attending the annual BOCES Lobby Day at the State Capitol.
Dowds discussed what his job responsibilities are as supervisor, and also how he serves a dual role as a member of the Town Board. He explained to the students how the town has various responsibilities like plowing and law enforcement, but also how the county and state step in to handle things like county and state roads.
One of the most important topics of the morning was a brief conversation about whether one’s vote really counts.
“It absolutely counts. What about the candidate who loses or wins by one vote? Your vote counts,” Dowds said.
One student even shared that his parent voted against a local candidate for office and that candidate lost by five votes – a point that really seemed to resonate with the students.
Jane Govola says experiences like this are great for students because this is the time when they are trying to decide what they want to do after high school.
“This time of year we’re writing IEP’s and having conversations with students about where they want to go. Sometimes it just takes one person to make one recommendation that could change their whole path.”
She says opportunities like having Supervisor Dowds come offer students the chance to hear about and experience a variety of things that might have an impact on their future.
“Everything we’re doing for their education is to lead them down that path.”
