An award-winning statewide civics program created by The Connecticut Democracy Center.
Inauguration Day 2023
On Friday, January 20, 2023, Connecticut’s Kid Governor Ellie Mendez and her Cabinet were officially sworn into office on Inauguration Day! Connecticut 5th graders, teachers, and community members watched live online as 2022 Kid Governor Makhi Ettienne-Modeste delivered his Farewell Address and 2023 Kid Governor Ellie began her term with her oath of office and Inaugural Address.
The celebration included a formal inauguration ceremony, news conference with Kid Governor Ellie and her Cabinet, and an educational program with elected officials from the three branches of state government. Special guests included: Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Treasurer Erick Russell, Attorney General William Tong, Deputy Comptroller Tara Downes, Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker, State Senator Marilyn Moore, State Representative Tony Scott, State Representative Kathy Kennedy, State Representative Steve Weir, Supreme Court Justice Steven Ecker, retired Supreme Court Justice Dennis Eveleigh, and State Troubadour Kala Farnham. The emcee of the event was NBC Connecticut’s Ted Koppy.
10:05am-11:00am – Inauguration Ceremony with remarks from state officials, 2022 Kid Governor Makhi Ettienne-Modeste’s Farewell Address, 2023 Kid Governor Ellie Mendez’s Inaugural Address, and the official oaths of office administered by Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.
11:00am-11:20am – News Conference with Kid Governor Ellie and her Cabinet answering pre-submitted questions from YOUR classes!
11:20 am-12:20pm – Meet the Three Branches of State Government educational program during which your students will “meet” officials from the three branchesof state government and hear their answers to pre-submitted questions from YOUR classes!
Prepare your students to watch Inauguration Day with our pre-Inauguration Lessons! There are 4 lessons that cover:
The 3 branches of state government
How to ask good questions
Preparing for a news conference
Writing inspirational messages: an activity about CTKG Ellie’s platform
These lessons also prepare students to ask questions of Kid Governor Ellie, the 2023 Cabinet, and other state officials from each branch of state government. See below for more information regarding how to submit your class’s questions.
Click the buttons below to access our free Pre-Inauguration Lessons!
Review the three branches of state government with your students as they get ready to watch Inauguration Day 2023! Kid Governor Staff will lead your students in a pre-recorded, 30-minute game with 15 civics trivia questions. Simply pull up the YouTube video, distribute our Student Response Sheet (printable PDF and Google Forms versions below) so students can record their answers, and click play! At the end, collect and tabulate your students’ answers while our staff reveals the correct answers with your class, and announce your class winners!
Click the buttons below to access our free Civics Trivia resources!
