Students Teach City Officials and Citizens a Lesson
6th grade student Christian Talarico speaks during public forum asking for an expansion to Ft.Neal Skate Park.
Tuesday night, Council Chambers had a different buzz than usual. There was a fresh sense of excitement and curiosity in the air. As nearly 90 people flooded Town Hall, there was finger-pointing and phones raised for photos. But this time, the fingers were pointing with enthusiasm—at architecture, landmarks, and the next perfect photo opportunity to prove they were there. That’s right—Council Chambers were invaded. The Mayor looked different, barely visible over the desk. Council looked different, too. What happened?
Tuesday marked the first-ever Young Voices: Hands-On Government Experience. The Parkersburg City Council partnered with Sow & Grow Together (SGT) to create an innovative and educational event. Students from Wood County Schools (Grades 6–12), along with members of the homeschool community, had the opportunity to participate in a Mock City Council Meeting.
The event began with introductions from SGT representative Chris Smith and PCC Sharon Kuhl, who also recognized the team that brought the event to life: PCC Sharon Kuhl (District 2), Zak Huffman (District 5), Chris Rexroad (District 7), Andrew Borkowski (District 8), and Dr. Cathy Dailey (District 9). From the SGT side, the team included myself, Cari Talarico, Chris and Audriana Smith, and Cassie Garcia.
Students were then taken on a tour of the Municipal Building, led by Councilwoman Kuhl, where they learned about the building’s history and the many ways it serves the city. Upon returning to Chambers, students had the chance to meet and hear from Mayor Tom Joyce. The Mayor did an excellent job explaining how our city government is structured and why. He didn’t stop there—he opened the floor for a student Q&A session. Students asked thoughtful questions ranging from how long he’s been Mayor, to what he considers his greatest accomplishment and why. He concluded by reflecting on his relationship with his father and emphasizing the importance of family.
As much as we all appreciated the tour and everything we learned, the true stars of the event were about to step forward. Following a presentation I gave on public forums, I asked the question that truly kicked off the night:
“Who would like to be a council member?”
Hands shot up across the room, and several students were selected to fill council seats, as well as the roles of student mayor, clerk, attorney, and press.
Here is a list of student participants:
District 1- 6th grader, Tucker Powell
District 2 - Senior, Colten Talarico
District 3 - Senior, Abigail Allman
District 4 - 9th grader, Mallory Hannah
District 5 - 6th grader,Carley Rash
District 6 - Represented by PCC Sharon Kuhl, acting as Council President.
District 7 – 8th grader, Ainslie Koreski
District 8 – 11th grader, Elijah Hornbeck
District 9 – 8th grader, Emma Richards
Student Mayor – 6th grader, Titus Powel
Student Clerk – 5th grader,Eden Huffman
Student Attorney –6th grader, Zaydin Scott
Student Press – 7th Grader, Hannah Roth
These students were led by Councilwoman Kuhl and supported by council members Tuck, Rexroad, Huffman, and Dailey. Student Clerk and Attorney were mentored by City Clerk Connie Shaffer and PCC Dr. Dailey, while Chris Smith from SGT supported the Student Press role.
I had the honor of watching these students take the reins and conduct the meeting. They learned how to ask for the floor, make a motion, and vote on resolutions. They engaged in meaningful discussions, expressed different viewpoints, and did so with clarity and respect. Students rose to speak both for and against topics, demonstrating remarkable composure and professionalism.
It didn’t matter whether they were seated at the dais, in the audience, or speaking during the public forum—they took their roles seriously. No one aimed for the last word or the cleverest remark. They cared about making their message clear.
One of the most inspiring moments of the night came from one of Parkersburg’s newest inclusivity efforts. This year, the city allocated funds to provide an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter at council meetings. Thanks to this addition, Senior Abigail Allman became the first Deaf student to participate as a council member during the mock meeting. Seeing her use the interpreter to communicate from the District 3 seat was a powerful and moving experience. Way to go, Parkersburg!
As a mother, I’m often reminded that children have a way of showing us what really matters. Life’s stresses and responsibilities can be overwhelming—but children, with their small hands and open hearts, pull us back into the moment. They don’t care about political divides; they care about walking the path—with someone beside them. Sometimes, we adults need a reset—and Tuesday night was that for me.
These students reminded me of how our council meetings should be: clear, respectful, and centered on understanding. They reminded me of my responsibility to lead with calm, to pursue clarity over emotion, and to continue encouraging honest conversations. I cannot control others—but I can control myself. I can lead by example and work to understand. And understanding leads to empathy, even when paths differ.
Lately, many of us adults have missed the mark on compassion, empathy, and respect—myself included. But now, I believe it’s time.
Time for a reset.
Let’s follow the students’ lead.
They showed us how it’s done.
Let’s listen.
6th grade student Alijah Fritz speaks against the ordinance prohibiting student from having their phones in class. Fritz highlighted that some students may use them for medical needs, or emergencies.
L-R Senior's Colten Talarico representing district 2 and Abigail Allman representing district 3 listen to speakers at public forum. In the back is PCC Wendy Tuck for guidance.
7th grade student Hannah Roth documents the meeting events as student press with guidance (right) from SGT's Chris Smith.
Titus Powell keeps PCC Zak Huffman entertained with his energy and ideas.
CONTRIBUTOR: Cari Talerico, Parkersburg