Nancy Pelosi, with Congresswomen Katherine Clark and Lori Trahan, made a special visit to see an innovative school in action
Ahead of a panel discussion at Tufts’ Breed Memorial Hall on early education and child care on May 3, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congresswomen Katherine Clark and Lori Trahan visited the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, a school affiliated with the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts.
In addition to educating eighty children from preschool to first grade, the school is a training and observation site for teachers, as well as a space for education research by Tufts faculty and students.
Guided by Tufts professor and department chair Marina Umaschi Bers and school director Hanna Gebretensae, the congresswomen spent time with students in a kindergarten robotics class and a bioengineering class. Children presented a poster thanking Pelosi for her work, explained the concept of bioluminescence, and even sang a brief song.
“It’s an honor to have been invited here. It’s amazing to see how receptive the children are as they’re learning,” Pelosi told staff at the school. “It’s a beautiful facility and you obviously love your work—congratulations and thank you for what you’re doing.”
Later, reflecting on the Eliot-Pearson tour at the panel discussion, Pelosi added, “What we saw here this morning means a great deal, not just to the children being beautifully attended to and educated, but as a model to the rest of the country.”
Hanna Gebretensae, left, director of the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, and Marina Umaschi Bers, professor and chair of the Elliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, greet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the school’s lobby. Photo: Anna Miller
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, walks past student artwork on the way to visiting classrooms at the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School. Photo: Anna Miller
From left, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Congresswoman Lori Trahan watch a classroom in action at Tufts University’s Eliot-Pearson Children's School. Photo: Anna Miller
Nick, a student Eliot-Pearson Children's School, makes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laugh. Photo: Anna Miller
Students at the Elliot-Pearson Children’s School give House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a hand-written thank you note: “Dear Speaker Nancy,” it read. “Thank you for coming to our school. Thank you for helping all children feel strong and free.” Photo: Anna MillerMonica Jimenez can be reached at monica.jimenez@tufts.edu.
