Tag: Kid Governor

Kid Governor Tessa’s First Blog Post

Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas administering the oath of office

Hi everyone, my name is Tessa and I go to Green Acres Elementary School in North Haven. I was elected as Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor by the fifth graders of Connecticut last November. Today I was sworn into office by Connecticut’s Secretary of State, Stephanie Thomas. It was an exciting day for me and my Cabinet Members!

I went through a long process to become Kid Governor, starting with class and school elections. Then, I was selected as one of the seven final candidates in the Statewide Election. In the election, each candidate had to choose a community issue to focus their platform on. I researched many topics, from school lunches to school safety, to homelessness, but the issue that stuck out to me was inclusion for students with disabilities. When I found out I had won the election, I was shocked and proud of myself. I knew that I had worked hard and I was excited, but most of all, I was glad the State of Connecticut was finally ready to accept kids for who they are. 

As Kid Governor, I have a Cabinet made up of the other candidates from the election. My Cabinet Members are very kind and great leaders. There’s Ajla, Alyvia, Dylan, Myra, Nana, and Samuel. Their platforms are also very important and have some connections to mine. They are all focused on inclusion and making sure everyone feels cared for and welcomed. 

There are many programs that help students who are excluded. However, students with disabilities feel left out every day. In fact, research from 2025 shows that over 90% of children with disabilities experience social isolation, while only 60% of kids with no disabilities report feeling left out sometimes. This means that students with disabilities are more likely to feel isolated or not welcome. 

My platform to address this issue has three steps. 

  1. Share resources with kids across Connecticut to explore with their class. These resources are meant to help students understand how people with disabilities are feeling and see things from their points of view.
  2. Invite schools to create buddy systems to promote inclusion among kids of all abilities. This system is meant to bring students together and create a bond between people who might not know each other well yet.
  3. Finally, I will encourage schools to have a buddy lunch table, where students can sit if they feel left out or need a friend. They will be able to join other kids and make friends, because maybe your future friend is sitting across the table from you.

A few weeks ago, I participated in the Connecticut Democracy Center’s Leadership Transition Meeting, where I met my Cabinet Members. I was a little nervous, but our platforms have a lot in common, so we got along really well! I’m glad I will have them by my side. 

Another thing we did at the Leadership Transition Meeting was meet with the 2025 Cabinet and Kid Governor, Keudy. He and I talked about becoming a Kid Governor and what my responsibilities would be. He also gave me some really good advice. 

It was exciting to see my office at Connecticut’s Old State House! It has pictures of all of the past Kid Governors. Now my picture is up there, too! My favorite part was the shelf with all of the recognitions Keudy received from state officials. I will feel very proud to receive citations from adults in elected office too!

I hope you all will follow my term this year and help include students no matter what they look like or sound like. If you have ideas to share with me or are making a difference in your community, you can email me at Tessa@CT.KidGovernor.org.

Remember to check this blog for updates and to be inclusive to everyone!

Theresa (Tessa) Hallinan

2026 Kid Governor

Green Acres Elementary School

North Haven

Welcome to the Kid Governor’s Blog!

Welcome to the Kid Governor’s Blog! Throughout Kid Governor Keduy’s term, he and his Cabinet Members will post about their platforms and how you can make a difference in your own school and community. Check back to read their latest posts! 

To introduce you to Kid Governor Keudy’s Speaking Up for Safe & Healthy Schools platform, we are sharing his speech from Inauguration Day on January 24, 2025. You can watch Kid Governor Keudy deliver the speech or read it below!

Thanks for reading and come back soon! 
Conntecticut’s Kid Governor® team at The Connecticut Democracy Center

Kid Governor Keudy’s Inaugural Address:

Good morning students of Connecticut, teachers, community members, dignitaries, and those watching online.

Thank you for joining me today as I officially take on the role of Connecticut’s Kid Governor! This moment is truly special to me, and I want to begin by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the many people who made this possible

First, I want to thank my teacher, Mrs. Mamudi, for encouraging me and supporting me throughout this journey. To my amazing classmates at Chase Elementary, thank you for your votes, your help, and your belief in me. To one of my good friends, Leena, thank you for your support and help in making this process not feel overwhelming for me. To my family, thank you for always being there to cheer me on and help me prepare. 

To the 5th graders of Connecticut, thank you for listening to my ideas and trusting me with your votes. You made this possible, and I am honored to represent all of you. 

Finally, a big thank-you to my new Cabinet Members, Dawson, Dominic, Khloe, Nava, Ryan, and last but not least Warona. I am so excited to work with you to make our platforms a reality. 

Now, let me share more about my platform Speaking Up for Safe & Happy Schools. 

I chose this platform because I believe that every student deserves to feel safe at school. 

My first platform point is: Help stop bullying by reporting unsafe behavior. I chose this point because according to the U.S. Department of Education, 1 in 5 kids report experiencing bullying. 

My second platform point is: Promote buddy systems to make sure nobody feels alone. I chose this idea because people feeling alone is a problem, and I believe we can help change that..  

My third platform point is: Encourage 5th graders to start mental health awareness groups or clubs in their schools. I chose this 3rd point because students could really benefit from mental health tips so they can support each other. 

As your Kid Governor, I’m excited to work with all of you to make our schools safer and better for everyone. I’m looking forward to meeting students across Connecticut, hearing your ideas, and turning them into actions that make a real difference. Together, we can create solutions that help us feel secure and supported every day at school. I promise to work hard, listen carefully, and lead with fairness and kindness. 

Thank you for believing in me and for giving me the chance to represent you. Let’s make this year a great one for all Connecticut students and teachers!