Jessie Clark Class Earns Kentucky Civic Seal

A Civic Engagement class at Jessie Clark is the first group of middle schoolers in Fayette County Public Schools and among the first in the state to earn the Kentucky Civic Seal. This achievement recognizes the sixth graders have made a significant impact on their community while pursuing the district’s Portrait of a Graduate goals. 

“They have not only mastered the social studies content but have become agents of change,” said teacher Shawna Petke.  

Petke challenged the class to identify issues they were passionate about improving in their community, state, or the world. After selecting a focus area, each student conducted research to better understand the issue, explored potential solutions, and developed an action plan. 

These four youngsters created exemplary presentations for the second annual Civics Day event: 

• Griffin Veinot began helping elderly neighbors who could no longer walk their dogs.
• Matthew Slaughter started an initiative to improve his neighborhood park by proposing a new playground.
• Sadie Combs partnered with the Lexington Humane Society to collect donations. 
• Liam Mullins worked with Operation Secret Santa to provide holiday gifts for families.