Hi, my name is Samuel James and I’m a student at Renzulli Academy. I was a finalist in the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election. I’m now a member of 2026 Kid Governor Tessa’sCabinet!
Taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day
I ran for Kid Governor on a platform that addresses cyberbullying. I chose this platform because kids should not feel scared or unsafe when they are online interacting with friends, making new friends, using social media, or gaming.
My three-point platform address cyberbullying is:
Stop.
Block.
Screenshot.
Since the statewide Election I have done some research on social media apps and hope to contact some of the companies to learn more.
If you would like to support my platform, you can…
Screenshot offensive posts on social media.
Block students who are sending offensive posts so they cannot send any more messages.
Share this strategy with someone who might need it.
If you have other ideas for how we can address cyberbullying, email me at Sam@CT.KidGovenor.org. You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2026 to learn about the other Cabinet Members and their platforms.
I’m Nana Appau, and I go to Odyssey Community School. I am excited and honored to introduce myself as a member of 2026 Kid Governor Tessa Hallinan’sCabinet! I am eager to make a difference in Connecticut, and in my hometown of Manchester. I hope to inspire all the 5th graders to embrace their own potential to invoke change, and I hope you will support Tessa and our 2026 team! We all have the power to make a difference, and I am excited to work with the entire Kid Governor team, the Connecticut Democracy Center and all of you!
Meet the Cabinet: Answering student questions during the panel on Inauguration Day
My strongest leadership quality is my dedication to assuring that no one is ever left behind; my teachers and classmates will stand behind that. I am excited to work with Tessa and support her platform of inclusion for students with disabilities as I am determined to make sure that kids always feel good about themselves.
My platform of Balance, Believe and Breathe focuses on anxiety as I know that many students struggle with this challenge in their school day and their daily lives. Like Kid Governor Tessa, I hope to create an environment where no one is afraid to address how and why they are feeling. Further, I hope to look for ways to make their feelings more positive. I believe my three-point platform aligns with Tessa’s: we all want the students of Connecticut to feel a positive sense of belonging and know that they each have gifts to share!
My three-point plan is:
1. Many kids in schools across Connecticut experience anxiety in physical ways. Looking to BALANCE this, I will invite 5th graders to create videos about how they reduce anxiety during the school day.
2. Kids need to BELIEVE that they can control their feelings of anxiety. I will encourage schools to create safe and calm places where students can go when they feel anxious in order to adjust and return to class ready to learn.
3. BREATHE! I will create a video series to help fifth graders recognize and manage the symptoms of anxiety.
When I am not studying, I love to play soccer and basketball as they are my two favorite sports. I play video games like Rocket League, Fortnite and Roblox with my friends.
I am most thankful for my family: my mom, dad, two VERY energetic brothers, and my Grandma. I love my family because they are always there to support and love me in all of my efforts to be my best self! I am most proud of my Ghanaian heritage because everyone is incredibly kind and welcoming. We have a special word, “Akwaaba,” which means welcome!
If you have ideas about how we can address the issue of anxiety, email me at Nana@CT.KidGovenor.org. You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2026 to learn about the other Cabinet Members and their platforms.
I am truly honored to be a part of the 2026 cabinet. I look forward to working with all of you to make a change in the world.
“One person can make a difference, so everyone should try.” John F. Kennedy
My name is Myra Ruparel, and I attend Center School in Ellington. I was a final candidate in the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election, and I am proud to now serve as a member of the 2026 Kid Governor’s Cabinet.
About Me:
I live with my mom, my dad, and my little brother, and I love staying busy and having fun! Sports are my passion; I’m on competition teams for basketball, soccer, and swimming. When I’m not playing sports, you can find me singing, drawing, dancing, reading graphic novels, learning new things, or hanging out with my friends.
Friends are super important to me, so I try my best to be kind, honest, energetic, and a good listener. I believe everyone should feel included and supported. I love cheering everyone up and spreading positive energy, so I always have fun in class and enjoy laughing with friends!
Music makes me really happy! I’ve been singing since I was three years old and am learning to play the guitar and piano. I also love being on stage in musical theater—playing Elsa in last year’s show was so much fun! Drawing helps me express myself, and I was excited to win second place in my local fire marshal’s poster contest.
I love challenging myself by learning new things and problem solving, especially through science experiments and math. Math is one of my favorite subjects.
My Community Issue:
Let me ask you: when you are at school –
Have you ever had to eat lunch alone, not been invited to play at recess, or pretended to be someone else just to fit in?
Have you ever felt left out because of your skin color, primary language, disability, ideas, or social status?
If so, you are not alone. Many students feel like they can’t truly be themselves at school.
According to ScienceDirect, 10–15% of children feel rejected. In my own class, I conducted a survey and discovered that 41% of students have felt excluded recently. Exclusion can make people feel sad, invisible, angry, and upset. Sometimes it even makes kids feel like they are not good enough or do not belong.
But the truth is, you can be friends with someone who is different from you—and kids should believe they are good enough, because they are and they can be who they are.
Why does this matter?
This issue is important because social exclusion affects mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 5 children experience mental health challenges. In a survey by Hope Lab, 50% of children said loneliness was the top reason for their mental health struggles.
In other words, social isolation can lead to mental health challenges, which can then lead to students disengaging from school or even dropping out. That is not okay—and it is something we can change.
My Platform
So how do we fix this? By being socially inclusive.
Social inclusion means making sure everyone feels like they belong—no matter their skin color, primary language, disability, ideas, or social status.
Let’s make sure every child in Connecticut feels heard, seen, included, and knows they are good enough.
Here is my three-point platform:
Start Mix it up Lunch day: One day per week, sit with someone new. It may feel awkward at first, but a new friend could be sitting across from you.
Star Student Week: One student each week is the star, so kids learn about that student’s hobbies, stories, and background.
Includer Points: Recess aides, lunch aides, teachers, and substitutes give points for inclusive behavior. Students earn prizes with points, motivating kids to be inclusive every day at school.
What I’ve Done So Far
So far, I have shared this issue with my friends, classmates, members of the Ellington Board of Education, and other community members to raise awareness and encourage action.
I conducted a survey to better understand how many students feel excluded, and I plan to expand this survey to other classes to identify which groups are most impacted.
Using this information, I will work with my teachers to implement my three-point plan. In the meantime, I actively look out during recess and group activities to make sure no one is sitting alone or being left out, and I encourage others to be inclusive whenever I can.
How You Can Help
I am committed to advancing my platform and continuing to share updates on my progress. I invite you to support my platform in your own school so that, together, we can make Connecticut a more inclusive place where no child feels left out.
You can help by:
Playing with or talking to someone who looks lonely
Partnering with someone who does not have a partner
Helping someone who may be struggling alone
I would love to hear how you are making a difference in your community. Email Myra@CT.KidGovernor.org to tell me all about it. I will continue to write blog posts to share ideas on how you can support my platform, where to start, and what to do.
Hi everyone, my name is Dylan Ellis and I attend CREC Academy of International Studies Elementary School. I was a final candidate in the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election. I’m now a member of 2026 Kid Governor Tessa’sCabinet!
Answering questions at the press conference on Inauguration Day
I campaigned on the platform of addressing racism. I chose this issue because no student should ever feel left out or treated unfairly because of their race, religion, or background. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong.
My three-point platform to address racism is:
1. Learn, Don’t Label: Learning about different cultures helps us understand each other instead of judging based on labels.
2. See Something, Say Something: If something isn’t right, we should speak up and help make sure everyone feels safe.
3. We All Belong: Even though we may look different, we all deserve respect and kindness.
Since the Statewide Election in November, I helped organize a gathering where fifth graders celebrated each other’s cultures with food and cultural awareness. This helped me and those who participated understand the different cultures and backgrounds we and our peers were born into. I will continue to work on my platform this year by reminding others that we all belong and we should respect and learn more about each other’s cultures and backgrounds.
If you would like to support my platform, you may join me in coming up with other ideas on how we can learn about different cultures and backgrounds, as this can help us in understanding each other and be more accepting. You may also help me by supporting my “See Something, Say Something” pledge, where students promise to speak up when something is not right and help classmates feel safe. I would also like your help in sharing my message that “we may look different, but we are all the same” in schools and communities around the state. I believe that when we work together, we can make our schools places where everyone feels safe, accepted, and valued.
This Cabinet role is not just about me, it is about all of us. I would love to hear how you are making a difference around racism in your own community. Email Dylan@CT.KidGovernor.org to tell me all about it! You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2026 to read about the other Kid Governor’s Cabinet Members.
Thanks for reading, I am proud to serve you as one of your Kid Governor’s Cabinet Members!
My platform is pollution and how it hurts ocean animals. Ocean animals are important because they give us food, energy, and jobs. When we protect them, we help our planet too!
My goal is to have less trash in the water, fewer animals getting hurt, and more people learning about marine life. Trash in the ocean is dangerous, but we can help by picking up trash around trash cans and at the beach so it doesn’t reach the water.
Ocean animals are important because they give us food, energy, and jobs. When we protect them, we help our planet too!
Let’s work together to keep our oceans clean and safe! 🌊🐢💙
Do you have ideas about how to clean up rivers, lakes, and the ocean? Email me at Alyvia@CT.KidGovenor.org. You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2026 to learn about the other Cabinet Members and their platforms.
My name is Ajla Reci and I’m in fifth grade in Mr. Setaro’s class at Charles Wright Elementary School. I was honored to be a final candidate in the election for Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor, and I am now proud to serve as a member of the Kid Governor’s Cabinet, working alongside the 2026 Kid Governor, Tessa Hallinan.
Click on this link to see a short video about my campaign for the Kid Governor program.
Meeting Mayor Lesser of Wethersfield and other officials to discuss creating a book club at my school.
Today, I want to talk about an issue that affects kids everywhere—screen time.
Everywhere we look, we see kids holding phones, tablets, or other electronic devices. While technology can be helpful, too much screen time can be harmful, especially for kids. Excessive use of electronics can cause eye strain, attention problems, and sleep disruption. That’s why my platform focuses on helping kids find a healthier balance in their use of technology.
To address this issue, I created a three-point plan to encourage kids to spend less time on screens and more time reading, learning, and connecting with others.
1. Schools can create book club challenges where students are encouraged to read more books. These challenges can include fun rewards and recognition. Book clubs make reading exciting and help students build strong habits that last a lifetime.
2. I propose organizing a Screen-Free Week filled with fun activities like arts and crafts, board games, outdoor play, and group reading. These events show kids that they can have fun, be creative, and connect with friends—without using screens.
3. I want to invite schools to start a Book Buddy Program that pairs older students with younger students so they can read together. This helps younger kids improve their reading skills and allows older students to become leaders and role models. Everyone benefits when students support each other.
Reducing screen time doesn’t mean getting rid of technology. It means creating balance. By encouraging reading, teamwork, and screen-free activities, we can help kids develop healthier habits that support their learning and well-being.
Let me know how you think we can make a difference around reducing screen time!
Email Ajla@CT.KidGovenor.org to tell me your ideas. Together, we can help kids unplug from screens and plug into books, creativity, and real-life connections.
