Social studies department teacher Michael Ackerman sits at his desk on Oct. 13. Ackerman and social studies department teacher Alex Yates will become the sponsors of Student Government Association (SGA) starting the 2016-17 school year. “Mr. Ackerman (and I) are trying to contribute as much as possible to make it easier on (social studies department teacher and current SGA sponsor Karena LaRosa), so that transition where it is just us two is easier,” Yates said.
By VALERIA GARCIA-POZO – Staff Writer
Social studies department teacher Michael Ackerman shares the impact his addition to the Student Government Association (SGA) has made, as well as SGA members’ plans after the Homecoming festivities.
Valeria Garcia-Pozo: What is your role in Student Government?
Michael Ackerman: I am not the official sponsor. I’m a teacher that helps out. Ms. LaRosa is the official sponsor. Myself and Mr. Yates, he’s also in social studies, we come to every meeting, we help Ms. LaRosa to lead student government, but we’re not the actual sponsors.
VGP: Why did you and Mr. Yates become a part of it?
MA: Ms. LaRosa asked if we wanted to help out, and we said that we were interested.
VGP: I heard you and Mr. Yates would eventually take over the positions of official sponsors. When will that change take place?
MA: (The change) is probably going to take place at the beginning of next year, but we’re not sure. We’re just focusing on this year right now. We had to do homecoming, so that was our focus.
VGP: After homecoming, what is SGA up to now?
MA: We’re still gonna be painting faces at every home game of the football season. There’s talk about a Fun Run. That’s all we’ve talked about so far, but we’re having a meeting today.
VGP: I’ve been hearing about this idea of a Fun Run for a while now. Could you elaborate?
MA: I think we’re trying to decide whether it will be a 5K somewhere near here–downtown or something like that–or if it will be like a color run. We’re just trying to figure that out.
VGP: What impact has your addition to student government made?
MA: I think we’ve been able to do more things with three teachers being there to supervise. Homecoming week we had Spirit Week go on, we had the Pep Rally, we had the Powder Puff game and we had the dance. That’s a lot for one teacher to oversee. Because we had three, we were able to break it up and the SGA students did a great job of working the actual events while we supervised.
VGP: Do you encourage your students to participate?
MA: Yeah, a couple of them have joined, so it’s been great.
VGP: What do you hope they get out of SGA?
MA: I hope that they take pride in representing their classmates, because this is a great way for the students to be more involved and take on leadership at Clarke Central.
